Eating disorder symptom severity scale: a new clinician rated measure.

This study describes the development and validation of the clinician-rated Eating Disorder Symptom Severity Scale (EDS(3)), created to address a gap in measurement options for youth with eating disorders. The EDS(3) is modeled on the Childhood Severity and Acuity of Psychiatric Illness Scales (Lyons, J. S, 1998). Factor analysis revealed a 5-factor solution and accounted for 78% of the variance, and internal consistency within the subscales was good (Cronbach alphas: 0.69 to 0.93). The EDS(3) is a valid and reliable measure designed for clinicians to help assess the severity of a youth's eating disorder and to facilitate outcomes research.

Use of a standardized bovine serum panel to evaluate a multiplexed nonstructural protein antibody assay for serological surveillance of foot-and-mouth disease.

Liquid array technology has previously been used to show proof of principle of a multiplexed nonstructural protein serological assay to differentiate foot-and-mouth disease virus-infected and vaccinated animals. The current multiplexed assay consists of synthetically produced peptide signatures 3A, 3B, and 3D and the recombinant protein signature 3ABC in combination with four controls. To determine the diagnostic specificity of each signature in the multiplex, the assay was evaluated against a naive population (n = 104) and a vaccinated population (n = 94). Subsequently, the multiplexed assay was assessed by using a panel of bovine sera generated by the World Reference Laboratory for foot-and-mouth disease in Pirbright, United Kingdom. This serum panel has been used to assess the performance of other singleplex enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)-based nonstructural protein antibody assays. The 3ABC signature in the multiplexed assay showed performance comparable to that of a commercially available nonstructural protein 3ABC ELISA (Cedi test), and additional information pertaining to the relative diagnostic sensitivity of each signature in the multiplex was acquired in one experiment. The encouraging results of the evaluation of the multiplexed assay against a panel of diagnostically relevant samples promote further assay development and optimization to generate an assay for routine use in foot-and-mouth disease serological surveillance.

Selective high-affinity ligand antibody mimics for cancer diagnosis and therapy: initial application to lymphoma/leukemia.

PURPOSE: More than two decades of research and clinical trials have shown radioimmunotherapy to be a promising approach for treating various forms of cancer. Lym-1 antibody, which binds selectively to HLA-DR10 on malignant B-cell lymphocytes, has proved to be effective in delivering radionuclides to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and leukemia. Using a new approach to create small synthetic molecules that mimic the targeting properties of the Lym-1 antibody, a prototype, selective high-affinity ligand (SHAL), has been developed to bind to a unique region located within the Lym-1 epitope on HLA-DR10. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Computer docking methods were used to predict two sets of small molecules that bind to neighboring cavities on the beta subunit of HLA-DR10 surrounding a critical amino acid in the epitope, and the ligands were confirmed to bind to the protein by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Pairs of these molecules were then chemically linked together to produce a series of bidentate and bisbidentate SHALs. RESULTS: These SHALs bind with nanomolar to picomolar K(d)'s only to cell lines expressing HLA-DR10. Analyses of biopsy sections obtained from patients also confirmed that SHAL bound to both small and large cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas mimicking the selectivity of Lym-1. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that synthetic molecules less than 1/50th the mass of an antibody can be designed to exhibit strong binding to subtle structural features on cell surface proteins similar to those recognized by antibodies. This approach offers great potential for developing small molecule therapeutics that target other types of cancer and disease.

Characteristics of dimeric (bis) bidentate selective high affinity ligands as HLA-DR10 beta antibody mimics targeting non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Despite their large size, antibodies have proven to be suitable radioisotope carriers to deliver systemic radiotherapy, often molecular image-based, for lymphoma and leukemia. To mimic antibody (Ab) targeting behavior while decreasing size by 50-100x, a combination of computational and experimental methods were used to generate molecules that bind to unique sites within the HLA-DR epitopic region of Lym-1, an Ab shown effective in patients. Lym-1 Ab mimics (synthetic high afinity ligands; SHALs) were generated and studied in vitro, using live cell binding assays, and/or pharmacokinetic studies over 24 h in xenografted mice given 1 or 20 microg SHAL doses i.v. Multimilligram amounts of each of the dimeric (bis) SHALs were synthesized at high purity, and labeled with indium-111 at high specific activity and purity. These SHALs were selective for HLA-DR and HLA-DR expressing malignant cells and had functional affinities that ranged from 10(-9) M (nanomolar) to 10(-10) M. Blood clearances ranged from 3.6 to 9.5 h and body clearances ranged from 15.2 to 43.0 h for the 6 bis DOTA-SHALs studied in a mouse model for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). While localization was shown in Raji NHL xenografts, biodistribution was influenced by 'sinks' for individual ligands of the SHALs. Highly pure, dimeric mimics for HLA-DR Ab were synthesized, biotinylated and radiolabeled, and showed selectivity in vitro. Pharmacokinetic behavior in mice was influenced by the ligands and by the linker length of the dimeric SHALs. Nanomolar or better functional affinity was observed when a suitably long linker was used to connect the two bidentate SHALs. The concept and methodology are of interest because applicable for targeting most proteins; the SHAL synthetic platform is highly efficient and adaptive.

Pharmacokinetic characterization in xenografted mice of a series of first-generation mimics for HLA-DR antibody, Lym-1, as carrier molecules to image and treat lymphoma.

UNLABELLED: Despite their large size, antibodies (Abs) are suitable carriers to deliver systemic radiotherapy, often molecular image-based, for lymphoma and leukemia. Lym-1 Ab has proven to be an effective radioisotope carrier, even in small amounts, for targeting human leukocyte antigen DR (HLA-DR), a surface membrane protein overexpressed on B-cell lymphoma. Pairs of molecules (referred to as ligands), shown by computational and experimental methods to bind to each of 2 sites within the Lym-1 epitopic region, have been linked to generate small (<2 kDa) molecules (referred to as selective high-affinity ligands [SHALs]) to mimic the targeting properties of Lym-1 Ab. METHODS: A lysine-polyethylene glycol (PEG) backbone was used to synthetically link 2 of the following ligands: deoxycholate, 5-leuenkephalin, triiodothyronine, thyronine, dabsyl-L-valine, and N-benzoyl-L-arginyl-4-amino-benzoic acid to generate a series of 13 bidentate SHALs with a biotin or 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-N,N',N'',N'''-tetraacetic acid (DOTA) chelate attached to the linker. These SHALs have been assessed for their selectivity in binding to HLA-DR10-expressing cells and for their pharmacokinetics and tissue biodistribution in mice. Biotinylated versions of these SHALs discriminated cell lines positive for HLA-DR10 expression with near-nanomolar affinity. The DOTA versions of 4 SHALs were labeled with (111)In for pharmacokinetic studies in mice with HLA-DR10-expressing malignant Raji xenografts. RESULTS: The bidentate, biotinylated, and DOTA-SHALs were synthesized in high-purity, multimilligram amounts. Mean radiochemical and product yields and purities were 90%, 75%, and 90% at mean specific activities of 3.9 MBq/microg (105 microCi/microg) for the (111)In-labeled SHALs. As expected, rapid blood clearance and tumor targeting were observed. The pharmacokinetics of the SHALs was influenced by the component ligands. Biliary clearance, kidney localization, and serum receptor binding contributed to less favorable tumor targeting. CONCLUSION: A series of SHALs was readily synthesized in multimilligram amounts and showed the expected selective binding in vitro. Better selection of the SHAL components should provide second-generation SHALs with improved properties to fulfill the substantial potential of these novel molecular carriers for targeting.

Toward a multiplexed serotyping immunoassay for foot-and-mouth disease virus.

Initial results demonstrating the feasibility of a multiplexed liquid array immunoassay for foot-and-mouth disease viral antigen detection and simultaneous serotype differentiation are presented. Serotype-specific antibodies from rabbit and guinea pig hyperimmunesera were isolated and prepared for use in a multiplexed, bead-based assay. The performance of all of the available antibodies as both capture and detector reagents was evaluated in the multiplexed system to establish a combination exhibiting the highest homotypic responses and lowest heterotypic reactions. The multiplexed assay was evaluated against inactivated cell culture supernatant samples of the same subtype as the virus used to raise the capture and detector antibodies. Distinct serotype differentiation was observed, except in the case of serotype SAT1. Subsequently, cell culture supernatant samples from a larger pool of viral subtypes were analyzed. Distinct serotype differentiation was obtained when analyzing cell culture supernatant samples from viral serotypes C, Asia, and SAT3, irrespective of the subtype. However, limitations of the current antibody pairs were realized in some inconclusive results obtained when analyzing samples from a broader range of O, A, and SAT2 subtypes. The results obtained in this initial study will be used to further optimize the assay using polyvalent or monoclonal antibodies and move toward the analysis of clinical samples.

Synthesis and radiolabeling of selective high-affinity ligands designed to target non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and leukemia.

Selective high-affinity ligands (SHALs) were synthesized as molecular targeting agents for HLA-DR10, a cell surface receptor upregulated on malignant B-cell lymphocytes in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and leukemia. SHALs are designed to mimic the affinity and selectivity of Lym-1, an antibody that binds to the beta-subunit of HLA-DR10. To bind selectively to HLA-DR10, SHALs were constructed to bind to two adjacent pockets on the surface of the beta-subunit of HLA-DR10 located within an epitope recognized by the Lym-1 antibody. A series of multivalent SHALs with molecular masses of 1500-3000 Da were synthesized using solid/polymer-supported synthesis on chlorotrityl chloride resin in 50-80% yield. To enable their use as radionuclide carriers in mouse studies, SHALs were conjugated to DOTA in a solution-phase reaction with 70-100% yield. 57Co/CoCl2 titrations revealed that 50-60% of the DOTA in the DOTA-conjugated SHALs was available for radiometal chelation. These DOTA-SHALs were labeled with 111In and used to carry out pharmacokinetic studies in mice. Radiolabeling reactions of DOTA-SHALs, with exactly one DOTA entity per targeting SHAL molecule, yielded products with greater than 90% radiochemical purity and specific activities ranging from 97 to 150 muCi/mug.

Substituent effects on aromatic stacking interactions.

Synthetic supramolecular zipper complexes have been used to quantify substituent effects on the free energies of aromatic stacking interactions. The conformational properties of the complexes have been characterised using NMR spectroscopy in CDCl(3), and by comparison with the solid state structures of model compounds. The structural similarity of the complexes makes it possible to apply the double mutant cycle method to evaluate the magnitudes of 24 different aromatic stacking interactions. The major trends in the interaction energy can be rationalised using a simple model based on electrostatic interactions between the pi-faces of the two aromatic rings. However, electrostatic interactions between the substituents of one ring and the pi-face of the other make an additional contribution, due to the slight offset in the stacking geometry. This property makes aromatic stacking interactions particularly sensitive to changes in orientation as well as the nature and location of substituents.

Mechanistic differences between in vitro assays for hydrazone-based small molecule inhibitors of anthrax lethal factor.

A systematically generated series of hydrazones were analyzed as potential inhibitors of anthrax lethal factor. The hydrazones were screened using one UV-based and two fluorescence-based in vitro assays. The study identified several inhibitors with IC50 values in the micromolar range, and importantly, significant differences in the types of inhibition were observed with the different assays.

Switching surface chemistry with supramolecular machines.

Tethered supramolecular machines represent a new class of active self-assembled monolayers in which molecular configurations can be reversibly programmed using electrochemical stimuli. We are using these machines to address the chemistry of substrate surfaces for integrated microfluidic systems. Interactions between the tethered tetracationic cyclophane host cyclobis(paraquat-p-phenylene) and dissolved pi-electron-rich guest molecules, such as tetrathiafulvalene, have been reversibly switched by oxidative electrochemistry. The results demonstrate that surface-bound supramolecular machines can be programmed to adsorb or release appropriately designed solution species for manipulating surface chemistry.

Luciferin derivatives for enhanced in vitro and in vivo bioluminescence assays.

In vivo bioluminescence imaging has become a cornerstone technology for preclinical molecular imaging. This imaging method is based on light-emitting enzymes, luciferases, which require specific substrates for light production. When linked to a specific biological process in an animal model of human biology or disease, the enzyme-substrate interactions become biological indicators that can be studied noninvasively in living animals. Signal intensity in these animal models depends on the availability of the substrate for the reaction within living cells in intact organs. The biodistribution and clearance rates of the substrates are therefore directly related to optimal imaging times and signal intensities and ultimately determine the sensitivity of detection and predictability of the model. Modifications of d-luciferin, the substrate for the luciferases obtained from beetle, including fireflies, result in novel properties and offer opportunities for improved bioassays. For this purpose, we have synthesized a conjugate, glycine-d-aminoluciferin, and investigated its properties relative to those of d-aminoluciferin and d-luciferin. The three substrates exhibited different kinetic properties and different intracellular accumulation profiles due to differences in their molecular structure, which in turn influenced their biodistribution in animals. Glycine-d-aminoluciferin had a longer in vivo circulation time than the other two substrates. The ability to assay luciferase in vitro and in vivo using these substrates, which exhibit different pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties, will provide flexibility and improve current imaging capabilities.

Physical controls on directed virus assembly at nanoscale chemical templates.

Viruses are attractive building blocks for nanoscale heterostructures, but little is understood about the physical principles governing their directed assembly. In situ force microscopy was used to investigate organization of Cowpea Mosaic Virus engineered to bind specifically and reversibly at nanoscale chemical templates with sub-30 nm features. Morphological evolution and assembly kinetics were measured as virus flux and inter-viral potential were varied. The resulting morphologies were similar to those of atomic-scale epitaxial systems, but the underlying thermodynamics was analogous to that of colloidal systems in confined geometries. The 1D templates biased the location of initial cluster formation, introduced asymmetric sticking probabilities, and drove 1D and 2D condensation at sub-critical volume fractions. The growth kinetics followed a t(1/2) law controlled by the slow diffusion of viruses. The ability of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) to induce the lateral expansion of virus clusters away from the 1D templates suggests a significant role for weak interactions.

Multiplexed detection of antibodies to nonstructural proteins of foot-and-mouth disease virus.

Liquid array technology was used to develop a multiplexed assay for the detection of antibodies to viral nonstructural proteins (NSPs), raised in cattle in response to infection with foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) virus. Two assays, one based on recombinant NSPs and the other on synthetically produced peptides, were developed and compared side-by-side. Serum samples from serial bleeds of cattle, each experimentally infected with one of the seven serotypes (C, A, O, Asia, SAT1, SAT2, SAT3) of FMD virus were analyzed. A distinct pattern in the detection of NSP antibodies and a close correlation of the recombinant protein and peptide-based assays were observed. The detection of antibodies to NSPs is a method to differentiate FMD-infected and FMD-vaccinated animals, and a high-throughput assay would be an invaluable tool in the case of an outbreak of FMD in North America, when emergency vaccination may be utilized to spare vaccinated, noninfected animals from slaughter and subsequent disposal.

Direct antilymphoma activity of novel, first-generation "antibody mimics" that bind HLA-DR10-positive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma cells.

A first-generation series of novel small molecules, collectively known as selective high-affinity ligands (SHALs), were designed and synthesized to mimic the binding of Lym-1, a monoclonal antibody (mAb) shown to be an effective cytotoxic and radionuclide carrier molecule for targeting non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Created as radionuclide targeting molecules, these SHALs were intended to have the human leukocyte antigen-DR (HLA-DR) selectivity of Lym-1 mAb and the pharmacokinetics of a small molecule. Because of the remarkable bioactivity of Lym-1 in vitro, the direct antilymphoma activity of three of these SHALs was tested. Two of these SHALs were bidentate and consisted of two ligands connected to the carboxyl and amino groups of lysine and polyethylene glycol (PEG); the third SHAL was a dimeric version of one of the former two SHALs linked with PEG. The three SHALs tested were: LeLPLDB, that contained one deoxycholate and one 5-leu-enkephalin as ligands; (LeacPLD)2LPB, a bis version of LeLPLDB intended to improve "functional affinity"; and ItPLDB, that contained the ligands, deoxycholate and triiodothyronine. Micromolar concentrations of all three SHALs showed binding to Raji, an HLA-DR10-positive human malignant B-cell line but no binding to CEM or Jurkat's, HLA-DR10-negative malignant T-cell lines. Additionally, the Raji cell membrane distributions of all three SHALs and of Lym-1 were remarkably similar. Unlike Lym-1, which causes substantial growth inhibition and cell death in NHL cell lines, these SHALs had no direct antilymphoma activity. In summary, three first-generation SHALs lacked direct antilymphoma activity, although they had selective NHL B-cell binding like Lym-1 mAb. Because of their small size, these SHALs have potential as radionuclide carrier substitutes for Lym-1 mAb to target the HLA-DR10 NHL-related cell-surface protein.

Electrostatic control of aromatic stacking interactions.

A supramolecular approach has been used to investigate the free energies of intermolecular aromatic stacking interactions. Chemical double mutant cycles have been used to measure the effect of a range of substituents on face-to-face stacking interactions with phenyl and pentafluorophenyl rings. Electrostatic effects dominate the trends in interaction energy.

Enhanced ligand affinity for receptors in which components of the binding site are independently mobile.

Using calmodulin antagonism as a model, it is demonstrated that, under circumstances in which binding sites are motionally independent, it is possible to create bifunctional ligands that bind with significant affinity enhancement over their monofunctional counterparts. Suitable head groups were identified by using a semiquantitative screen of monofunctional tryptophan analogs. Two bifunctional ligands, which contained two copies of the highest-affinity head group tethered by rigid linkers, were synthesized. The bifunctional ligands bound to calmodulin with a stoichiometry of 1:1 and with an affinity enhancement over their monofunctional counterparts; the latter bound with a stoichiometry of 2:1 ligand:protein. A lower limit to the effective concentrations of the domains of calmodulin relative to each other (0.2-2 mM) was determined. A comparable effective concentration was achieved for bifunctional ligands based on higher-affinity naphthalene sulphonamide derivatives.

Proteomic analysis of human serum by two-dimensional differential gel electrophoresis after depletion of high-abundant proteins.

Two-dimensional differential gel electrophoresis (2-D DIGE) was used to analyze human serum following the removal of albumin and five other high-abundant serum proteins. After protein removal, serum was analyzed by SDS-PAGE as a preliminary screen, and significant differences between four high-abundant protein removal methods were observed. Antibody-based albumin removal and high-abundant protein removal methods were found to be efficient and specific. To further characterize serum after protein removal, 2-D DIGE was employed, enabling multiplexed analysis of serum through the use of three fluorescent protein dyes. Comparison between crude serum and serum after removal of high-abundant proteins clearly illustrates an increase in the number of lower abundant protein spots observed. Approximately 850 protein spots were detected in crude serum whereas over 1500 protein spots were exposed following removal of six high-abundant proteins, representing a 76% increase in protein spot detection. Several proteins that showed a 2-fold increase in intensity after depletion of high-abundant proteins, as well as proteins that were depleted during abundant protein removal methods, were further characterized by mass spectrometry. This series of experiments demonstrates that high-abundant protein removal, combined with 2-D DIGE, is a practical approach for enriching and characterizing lower abundant proteins in human serum. Consequently, this methodology offers advances in proteomic characterization, and therefore, in the identification of biomarkers from human serum.

Proteomic characterization of host response to Yersinia pestis and near neighbors.

Host-pathogen interactions result in protein expression changes within both the host and the pathogen. Here, results from proteomic characterization of host response following exposure to Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of plague, and to two near neighbors, Yersinia pseudotuberculosis and Yersinia enterocolitica, are reported. Human monocyte-like cells were chosen as a model for macrophage immune response to pathogen exposure. Two-dimensional electrophoresis followed by mass spectrometry was used to identify host proteins with differential expression following exposure to these three closely related Yersinia species. This comparative proteomic characterization of host response clearly shows that host protein expression patterns are distinct for the different pathogen exposures, and contributes to further understanding of Y. pestis virulence and host defense mechanisms. This work also lays the foundation for future studies aimed at defining biomarkers for presymptomatic detection of plague.

Experimental measurement of noncovalent interactions between halogens and aromatic rings.

Chemical double mutant cycles have been used to quantify the interactions of halogens with the faces of aromatic rings in chloroform. The halogens are forced over the face of an aromatic ring by an array of hydrogen-bonding interactions that lock the complexes in a single, well-defined conformation. These interactions can also be engineered into the crystal structures of simpler model compounds, but experiments in solution show that the halogen-aromatic interactions observed in the solid state are all unfavourable, regardless of whether the aromatic rings contain electron-withdrawing or electron-donating substituents. The halogen-aromatic interactions are repulsive by 1-3 kJ mol(-1). The interactions with fluorine are slightly less favourable than with chlorine and bromine.

Serum protein profile alterations in hemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: Serum protein profiling patterns can reflect the pathological state of a patient and therefore may be useful for clinical diagnostics. Here, we present results from a pilot study of proteomic expression patterns in hemodialysis patients designed to evaluate the range of serum proteomic alterations in this population. METHODS: Surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS) was used to analyze serum obtained from patients on periodic hemodialysis treatment and healthy controls. Serum samples from patients and controls were first fractionated into six eluants on a strong anion exchange column, followed by application to four array chemistries representing cation exchange, anion exchange, metal affinity and hydrophobic surfaces. A total of 144 SELDI-TOF-MS spectra were obtained from each serum sample. RESULTS: The overall profiles of the patient and control samples were consistent and reproducible. However, 30 well-defined protein differences were observed; 15 proteins were elevated and 15 were decreased in patients compared to controls. Serum from 1 patient exhibited novel protein peaks suggesting possible additional changes due to a secondary disease process. CONCLUSION: SELDI-TOF-MS demonstrated consistent serum protein profile differences between patients and controls. Similarity in protein profiles among dialysis patients suggests that patient physiological responses to end-stage renal disease and/or dialysis therapy have a major effect on serum protein profiles.