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Liu Y, Yi L, Li Y, Wang Z, Jirimutu. Characterization of heavy-chain antibody gene repertoires in Bactrian camels. J Genet Genomics 2023; 50:38-45. [PMID: 35500746 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgg.2022.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Camelids are the only mammals that can produce functional heavy-chain antibodies (HCAbs). Although HCAbs were discovered over 30 years ago, the antibody gene repertoire of Bactrian camels remains largely underexplored. To characterize the diversity of variable genes of HCAbs (VHHs), germline and rearranged VHH repertoires are constructed. Phylogenetics analysis shows that all camelid VHH genes are derived from a common ancestor and the nucleotide diversity of VHHs is similar across all camelid species. While species-specific hallmark sites are identified, the non-canonical cysteines specific to VHHs are distinct in Bactrian camels and dromedaries compared with alpacas. Though low divergence at the germline repertoire between wild and domestic Bactrian camels, higher expression of VHHs is observed in some wild Bactrian camels than that of domestic ones. This study not only adds our understanding of VHH repertoire diversity across camelids, but also provides useful resources for HCAb engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuexing Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Li Yi
- Key Laboratory of Dairy Biotechnology and Engineering, Ministry of Education, College of Food Science and Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Huhhot, Inner Mongolia 010018, China
| | - Yixue Li
- Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310024, China; School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China; Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510005, China; Bio-Med Big Data Center, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Genetics and Development, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China.
| | - Zhen Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China.
| | - Jirimutu
- Key Laboratory of Dairy Biotechnology and Engineering, Ministry of Education, College of Food Science and Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Huhhot, Inner Mongolia 010018, China; Inner Mongolia Institute of Camel Research, West Alax, Inner Mongolia 737399, China.
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Abstract
Despite the existence of vaccination, antibiotic therapy, and antibody therapies, infectious diseases still remain as one of the biggest challenges to human health all over the world. Among the different methods for treatment and prevention of infectious diseases, antibodies are well known but poorly developed. There is a new subclass of antibodies calledheavy-chain antibodies that belong to the IgG isotype. However, they are low in molecular weight and lost the first constant domain (CH1). Their single-domain antigen-binding fragments, identified as nanobodies, have unique characteristics, which make them superior in comparison with the conventional antibodies. Low molecular weight and small size, high stability and solubility, ease of expression, good tissue penetration, and low-cost production make nanobodies an appropriate alternative to use against infectious disease. In this research, we review the properties of nanobodies and their potential applications in controlling human infections and inflammations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marzieh Sanaei
- Biotechnology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran, Iran.,Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy & Biotechnology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran, Iran
| | - Neda Setayesh
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy & Biotechnology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran, Iran
| | - Zargham Sepehrizadeh
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy & Biotechnology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehdi Mahdavi
- Recombinant Vaccine Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Hossein Yazdi
- Biotechnology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran, Iran.,Recombinant Vaccine Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran, Iran
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Saerens D. Isolation and optimization of camelid single-domain antibodies: Dirk Saerens’ work on nanobodies. World J Biol Chem 2010; 1:235-8. [PMID: 21537479 PMCID: PMC3083966 DOI: 10.4331/wjbc.v1.i7.235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2010] [Revised: 07/01/2010] [Accepted: 07/08/2010] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
It is well established that all camelids have unique antibodies circulating in their blood. Unlike antibodies from all other species, these special antibodies are devoid of light chains, and are composed of a heavy chain homodimer. These so-called heavy-chain antibodies (HCAbs) are expressed after a V-D-J rearrangement and require dedicated constant gamma genes. An immune response is raised in these HCAbs following a classical immunization protocol. These HCAbs are easily purified from serum, and their antigen-binding fragment interacts with parts of the target that are less antigenic to conventional antibodies. The antigen binding site of the dromedary HCAb comprises one single domain, referred to as VHH or nanobody (Nb), therefore, a strategy was designed to clone the Nb repertoire of an immunized dromedary and to select the Nb with specificity for our target antigens. The monoclonal Nb is produced well in bacteria, is very stable and highly soluble, and it binds the antigen with high affinity and specificity. Currently, the recombinant Nb has been developed successfully for research purposes, as a probe in biosensors, to diagnose infections, or to treat diseases such as cancer or trypanosomiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dirk Saerens
- Dirk Saerens, Department of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Vrije Universiteits Brussel-Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnology, Pleinlaan 2, B-1050 Brussel, Belgium
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