Preparation of egg yolk antibodies against BoNT/B and their passive protection in mouse models

IgY-technology (egg yolk antibodies) in human medicine: A review of patents and clinical trials

IgY-technology (the production and extraction of specific IgY antibodies from egg yolk) is an innovative method to produce antibodies for therapy and prophylaxis. Advantages of IgY over other antibodies comprise its cost-effective extraction, the minimization of animal harm and distress, and its reduced reactivity with mammalian factors. Many research groups have demonstrated that IgY is active against several pathogens or conditions, a fact that may support the design of novel, safe and effective health products. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of IgY-based biologicals for human medicine, including patent applications and clinical trials during the period 2010-2018, and addresses how IgY-technology can lead to innovation in the production of biologicals for the treatment and prophylaxis of a wide range of infectious and non-communicable diseases.

Intact anti-LPS IgY is found in the blood after intragastric administration in mice

Severe burn injury and cirrhosis often cause the translocation of bacterial endotoxins into blood, leading to systemic damage and even death. Our previous studies have shown that anti‐lipopolysaccharide egg yolk antibody (anti‐LPS IgY) can neutralize bacterial endotoxins in vitro and in vivo effectively, thereby reducing endotoxin damage. Whether anti‐LPS IgY can be absorbed into the blood through the intestinal barrier and neutralize endotoxins in circulation remains unclear. In this study, we used in vivo small animal imaging techniques, protein purification, molecular biology, and mass spectrometry to show that intragastrically administered anti‐LPS IgY is detected in the blood of mice as an intact molecule and has the capacity to bind to LPS. Immunohistochemical analysis confirmed that anti‐LPS IgY is associated with the intestinal mucosa of mice. However, the route of absorption of this large protein molecule was not determined. This study suggests that anti‐LPS IgY can be absorbed into the circulation, with the same molecular mass as purified anti‐LPS IgY as a macromolecular protein, suggesting a new strategy for the prevention of damage caused by endotoxins.

An Ultrasensitive Gold Nanoparticle-based Lateral Flow Test for the Detection of Active Botulinum Neurotoxin Type A

Botulism is a severe and potentially lethal paralytic disease caused by several botulinum neurotoxin-producing Clostridia spp. In China, the majority of the cases caused by botulism were from less-developed rural areas. Here, we designed specific substrate peptides and reconfigured gold nanoparticle-based lateral flow test strip (LFTS) to develop an endopeptidase-based lateral flow assay for the diagnosis of botulism. We performed this lateral flow assay on botulinum neurotoxin-spiked human serum samples. The as-prepared LFTS had excellent performance in the detection of botulinum neurotoxin using only 1 μL of simulated serum, and its sensitivity and specificity were comparable to that of mouse lethality assay. Moreover, the assay takes only half a day and does not require highly trained laboratory staff, specialized facility, or equipment. Finally, our LFTS can be potentially extended to other serotypes of BoNTs by designing specific substrate peptides against the different types of BoNTs. Overall, we demonstrate a strategy by which LFTS and endopeptidase activity assays can be integrated to achieve facile and economic diagnosis of botulism in resource-limited settings.