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1.
Front Immunol ; 15: 1380694, 2024.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38779676

ABSTRACT

Background: Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) produced by Clostridium botulinum is one of the most potent known toxins. Moreover, BoNT is classified as one of the most important biological warfare agents that threatens the biosafety of the world. Currently, the approved treatment for botulism in humans is the use of polyvalent horse serum antitoxins. However, they are greatly limited because of insufficient supply and adverse reactions. Thus, treatment of human botulism requires the development of effective toxin-neutralizing antibodies. Considering their advantages, neutralizing nanobodies will play an increasing role as BoNTs therapeutics. Methods: Herein, neutralizing nanobodies binding to the heavy chain (Hc) domain of BoNT/B (BHc) were screened from a phage display library. Then, BoNT/B-specific clones were identified and fused with the human Fc fragment (hFc) to form chimeric heavy chain antibodies. Finally, the affinity, specificity, and neutralizing activity of antibodies against BoNT/B in vivo were evaluated. Results: The B5-hFc, B9-hFc and B12-hFc antibodies demonstrated high affinity for BHc in the nanomolar range. The three antibodies were proven to have potent neutralizing activity against BoNT/B in vivo. Conclusion: The results demonstrate that inhibiting toxin binding to the host receptor is an efficient strategy and the three antibodies could be used as candidates for the further development of drugs to prevent and treat botulism.


Subject(s)
Antibodies, Neutralizing , Botulinum Toxins, Type A , Botulism , Antibodies, Neutralizing/immunology , Animals , Botulinum Toxins, Type A/immunology , Humans , Botulism/immunology , Mice , Single-Domain Antibodies/immunology , Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains/immunology , Antibody Affinity , Peptide Library , Female , Antibodies, Bacterial/immunology
2.
Front Immunol ; 15: 1343024, 2024.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38784378

ABSTRACT

Background: Around 20% of the population in Northern and Central Europe is affected by birch pollen allergy, with the major birch pollen allergen Bet v 1 as the main elicitor of allergic reactions. Together with its cross-reactive allergens from related trees and foods, Bet v 1 causes an impaired quality of life. Hence, new treatment strategies were elaborated, demonstrating the effectiveness of blocking IgG antibodies on Bet v 1-induced IgE-mediated reactions. A recent study provided evidence for the first time that Bet v 1-specific nanobodies reduce patients´ IgE binding to Bet v 1. In order to increase the potential to outcompete IgE recognition of Bet v 1 and to foster cross-reactivity and cross-protection, we developed Bet v 1-specific nanobody trimers and evaluated their capacity to suppress polyclonal IgE binding to corresponding allergens and allergen-induced basophil degranulation. Methods: Nanobody trimers were engineered by adding isoleucine zippers, thus enabling trimeric formation. Trimers were analyzed for their cross-reactivity, binding kinetics to Bet v 1, and related allergens, and patients' IgE inhibition potential. Finally, their efficacy to prevent basophil degranulation was investigated. Results: Trimers showed enhanced recognition of cross-reactive allergens and increased efficiency to reduce IgE-allergen binding compared to nanobody monomers. Furthermore, trimers displayed slow dissociation rates from allergens and suppressed allergen-induced mediator release. Conclusion: We generated high-affine nanobody trimers that target Bet v 1 and related allergens. Trimers blocked IgE-allergen interaction by competing with IgE for allergen binding. They inhibited IgE-mediated release of biological mediators, demonstrating a promising potential to prevent allergic reactions caused by Bet v 1 and relatives.


Subject(s)
Allergens , Antigens, Plant , Cross Reactions , Immunoglobulin E , Single-Domain Antibodies , Immunoglobulin E/immunology , Immunoglobulin E/metabolism , Humans , Antigens, Plant/immunology , Single-Domain Antibodies/immunology , Cross Reactions/immunology , Allergens/immunology , Basophils/immunology , Basophils/metabolism , Protein Binding , Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal/immunology , Protein Multimerization
3.
Sci Signal ; 17(837): eadq4734, 2024 May 21.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38771919

ABSTRACT

Antibody fragments can act as pharmacological tools to modulate the functions of G protein-coupled receptors.


Subject(s)
Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled , Single-Domain Antibodies , Single-Domain Antibodies/immunology , Humans , Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/metabolism , Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/immunology , Animals
4.
Theranostics ; 14(7): 2656-2674, 2024.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38773967

ABSTRACT

Rationale: AXL expression has been identified as a prognostic factor in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and is detectable in approximately 50% of AML patients. In this study, we developed AXL-specific single domain antibodies (sdAbs), cross-reactive for both mouse and human AXL protein, to non-invasively image and treat AXL-expressing cancer cells. Methods: AXL-specific sdAbs were induced by immunizing an alpaca with mouse and human AXL proteins. SdAbs were characterized using ELISA, flow cytometry, surface plasmon resonance and the AlphaFold2 software. A lead compound was selected and labeled with 99mTc for evaluation as a diagnostic tool in mouse models of human (THP-1 cells) or mouse (C1498 cells) AML using SPECT/CT imaging. For therapeutic purposes, the lead compound was fused to a mouse IgG2a-Fc tail and in vitro functionality tests were performed including viability, apoptosis and proliferation assays in human AML cell lines and primary patient samples. Using these in vitro models, its anti-tumor effect was evaluated as a single agent, and in combination with standard of care agents venetoclax or cytarabine. Results: Based on its cell binding potential, cross-reactivity, nanomolar affinity and GAS6/AXL blocking capacity, we selected sdAb20 for further evaluation. Using SPECT/CT imaging, we observed tumor uptake of 99mTc-sdAb20 in mice with AXL-positive THP-1 or C1498 tumors. In THP-1 xenografts, an optimized protocol using pre-injection of cold sdAb20-Fc was required to maximize the tumor-to-background signal. Besides its diagnostic value, we observed a significant reduction in tumor cell proliferation and viability using sdAb20-Fc in vitro. Moreover, combining sdAb20-Fc and cytarabine synergistically induced apoptosis in human AML cell lines, while these effects were less clear when combined with venetoclax. Conclusions: Because of their diagnostic potential, sdAbs could be used to screen patients eligible for AXL-targeted therapy and to follow-up AXL expression during treatment and disease progression. When fused to an Fc-domain, sdAbs acquire additional therapeutic properties that can lead to a multidrug approach for the treatment of AXL-positive cancer patients.


Subject(s)
Axl Receptor Tyrosine Kinase , Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute , Proto-Oncogene Proteins , Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases , Single-Domain Antibodies , Animals , Humans , Mice , Proto-Oncogene Proteins/metabolism , Proto-Oncogene Proteins/immunology , Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases/immunology , Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases/metabolism , Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/drug therapy , Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/immunology , Single-Domain Antibodies/pharmacology , Single-Domain Antibodies/immunology , Cell Line, Tumor , Cell Proliferation/drug effects , Apoptosis/drug effects , Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology , Female , Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays , THP-1 Cells
5.
World J Microbiol Biotechnol ; 40(7): 209, 2024 May 21.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38771414

ABSTRACT

Nanobodies are the smallest known antigen-binding molecules to date. Their small size, good tissue penetration, high stability and solubility, ease of expression, refolding ability, and negligible immunogenicity in the human body have granted them excellence over conventional antibodies. Those exceptional attributes of nanobodies make them promising candidates for various applications in biotechnology, medicine, protein engineering, structural biology, food, and agriculture. This review presents an overview of their structure, development methods, advantages, possible challenges, and applications with special emphasis on infectious diseases-related ones. A showcase of how nanobodies can be harnessed for applications including neutralization of viruses and combating antibiotic-resistant bacteria is detailed. Overall, the impact of nanobodies in vaccine design, rapid diagnostics, and targeted therapies, besides exploring their role in deciphering microbial structures and virulence mechanisms are highlighted. Indeed, nanobodies are reshaping the future of infectious disease prevention and treatment.


Subject(s)
Communicable Diseases , Single-Domain Antibodies , Single-Domain Antibodies/immunology , Humans , Communicable Diseases/immunology , Communicable Diseases/therapy , Animals , Biotechnology/methods , Protein Engineering/methods
6.
Nat Commun ; 15(1): 4310, 2024 May 21.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38773068

ABSTRACT

Oligoclonal mixtures of broadly-neutralizing antibodies can neutralize complex compositions of similar and dissimilar antigens, making them versatile tools for the treatment of e.g., infectious diseases and animal envenomations. However, these biotherapeutics are complicated to develop due to their complex nature. In this work, we describe the application of various strategies for the discovery of cross-neutralizing nanobodies against key toxins in coral snake venoms using phage display technology. We prepare two oligoclonal mixtures of nanobodies and demonstrate their ability to neutralize the lethality induced by two North American coral snake venoms in mice, while individual nanobodies fail to do so. We thus show that an oligoclonal mixture of nanobodies can neutralize the lethality of venoms where the clinical syndrome is caused by more than one toxin family in a murine challenge model. The approaches described may find utility for the development of advanced biotherapeutics against snakebite envenomation and other pathologies where multi-epitope targeting is beneficial.


Subject(s)
Antibodies, Neutralizing , Coral Snakes , Single-Domain Antibodies , Animals , Single-Domain Antibodies/immunology , Mice , Antibodies, Neutralizing/immunology , Coral Snakes/immunology , Disease Models, Animal , Antivenins/immunology , Elapid Venoms/immunology , Female , Snake Bites/immunology , Snake Bites/therapy , Epitopes/immunology , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Cell Surface Display Techniques
7.
Antiviral Res ; 226: 105898, 2024 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38692413

ABSTRACT

SARS-CoV-2 continues to threaten human health, antibody therapy is one way to control the infection. Because new SARS-CoV-2 mutations are constantly emerging, there is an urgent need to develop broadly neutralizing antibodies to block the viral entry into host cells. VNAR from sharks is the smallest natural antigen binding domain, with the advantages of small size, flexible paratopes, good stability, and low manufacturing cost. Here, we used recombinant SARS-CoV-2 Spike-RBD to immunize sharks and constructed a VNAR phage display library. VNAR R1C2, selected from the library, efficiently binds to the RBD domain and blocks the infection of ACE2-positive cells by pseudovirus. Next, homologous bivalent VNARs were constructed through the tandem fusion of two R1C2 units, which enhanced both the affinity and neutralizing activity of R1C2. R1C2 was predicted to bind to a relatively conserved region within the RBD. By introducing mutations at four key binding sites within the CDR3 and HV2 regions of R1C2, the affinity and neutralizing activity of R1C2 were significantly improved. Furthermore, R1C2 also exhibits an effective capacity of binding to the Omicron variants (BA.2 and XBB.1). Together, these results suggest that R1C2 could serve as a valuable candidate for preventing and treating SARS-CoV-2 infections.


Subject(s)
Antibodies, Neutralizing , Antibodies, Viral , COVID-19 , SARS-CoV-2 , Sharks , Single-Domain Antibodies , Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus , Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/immunology , Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/genetics , Animals , SARS-CoV-2/immunology , Single-Domain Antibodies/immunology , Single-Domain Antibodies/genetics , Humans , Sharks/immunology , Antibodies, Neutralizing/immunology , Antibodies, Viral/immunology , COVID-19/immunology , COVID-19/virology , Binding Sites , Protein Binding , Peptide Library , HEK293 Cells , Mutation
8.
Signal Transduct Target Ther ; 9(1): 131, 2024 May 13.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38740785

ABSTRACT

Almost all the neutralizing antibodies targeting the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of spike (S) protein show weakened or lost efficacy against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged or emerging variants, such as Omicron and its sub-variants. This suggests that highly conserved epitopes are crucial for the development of neutralizing antibodies. Here, we present one nanobody, N235, displaying broad neutralization against the SARS-CoV-2 prototype and multiple variants, including the newly emerged Omicron and its sub-variants. Cryo-electron microscopy demonstrates N235 binds a novel, conserved, cryptic epitope in the N-terminal domain (NTD) of the S protein, which interferes with the RBD in the neighboring S protein. The neutralization mechanism interpreted via flow cytometry and Western blot shows that N235 appears to induce the S1 subunit shedding from the trimeric S complex. Furthermore, a nano-IgM construct (MN235), engineered by fusing N235 with the human IgM Fc region, displays prevention via inducing S1 shedding and cross-linking virus particles. Compared to N235, MN235 exhibits varied enhancement in neutralization against pseudotyped and authentic viruses in vitro. The intranasal administration of MN235 in low doses can effectively prevent the infection of Omicron sub-variant BA.1 and XBB in vivo, suggesting that it can be developed as a promising prophylactic antibody to cope with the ongoing and future infection.


Subject(s)
Antibodies, Neutralizing , Antibodies, Viral , COVID-19 , Epitopes , Immunoglobulin M , SARS-CoV-2 , Single-Domain Antibodies , Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus , SARS-CoV-2/immunology , SARS-CoV-2/genetics , Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/immunology , Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/genetics , Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/chemistry , Humans , Single-Domain Antibodies/immunology , Single-Domain Antibodies/genetics , Single-Domain Antibodies/chemistry , Single-Domain Antibodies/pharmacology , Epitopes/immunology , Epitopes/genetics , Epitopes/chemistry , Animals , COVID-19/immunology , COVID-19/virology , Antibodies, Viral/immunology , Antibodies, Viral/chemistry , Antibodies, Neutralizing/immunology , Antibodies, Neutralizing/chemistry , Antibodies, Neutralizing/genetics , Immunoglobulin M/immunology , Immunoglobulin M/genetics , Mice , Protein Domains , Cryoelectron Microscopy
9.
J Agric Food Chem ; 72(19): 10753-10771, 2024 May 15.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38706131

ABSTRACT

Food-borne biotoxins from microbes, plants, or animals contaminate unclean, spoiled, and rotten foods, posing significant health risks. Neutralizing such toxins is vital for human health, especially after food poisoning. Nanobodies (Nbs), a type of single-domain antibodies derived from the genetic cloning of a variable domain of heavy chain antibodies (VHHs) in camels, offer unique advantages in toxin neutralization. Their small size, high stability, and precise binding enable effective neutralization. The use of Nbs in neutralizing food-borne biotoxins offers numerous benefits, and their genetic malleability allows tailored optimization for diverse toxins. As nanotechnology continues to evolve and improve, Nbs are poised to become increasingly efficient and safer tools for toxin neutralization, playing a pivotal role in safeguarding human health and environmental safety. This review not only highlights the efficacy of these agents in neutralizing toxins but also proposes innovative solutions to address their current challenges. It lays a solid foundation for their further development in this crucial field and propels their commercial application, thereby contributing significantly to advancements in this domain.


Subject(s)
Single-Domain Antibodies , Animals , Single-Domain Antibodies/immunology , Single-Domain Antibodies/chemistry , Single-Domain Antibodies/genetics , Humans , Food Contamination/analysis , Food Contamination/prevention & control , Antibodies, Neutralizing/immunology , Toxins, Biological/immunology , Foodborne Diseases/prevention & control , Foodborne Diseases/immunology , Camelus/immunology
10.
Nat Commun ; 15(1): 4173, 2024 May 16.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38755204

ABSTRACT

Potassium channels of the Two-Pore Domain (K2P) subfamily, KCNK1-KCNK18, play crucial roles in controlling the electrical activity of many different cell types and represent attractive therapeutic targets. However, the identification of highly selective small molecule drugs against these channels has been challenging due to the high degree of structural and functional conservation that exists not only between K2P channels, but across the whole K+ channel superfamily. To address the issue of selectivity, here we generate camelid antibody fragments (nanobodies) against the TREK-2 (KCNK10) K2P K+ channel and identify selective binders including several that directly modulate channel activity. X-ray crystallography and CryoEM data of these nanobodies in complex with TREK-2 also reveal insights into their mechanisms of activation and inhibition via binding to the extracellular loops and Cap domain, as well as their suitability for immunodetection. These structures facilitate design of a biparatropic inhibitory nanobody with markedly improved sensitivity. Together, these results provide important insights into TREK channel gating and provide an alternative, more selective approach to modulation of K2P channel activity via their extracellular domains.


Subject(s)
Potassium Channels, Tandem Pore Domain , Single-Domain Antibodies , Potassium Channels, Tandem Pore Domain/metabolism , Single-Domain Antibodies/metabolism , Single-Domain Antibodies/immunology , Single-Domain Antibodies/chemistry , Humans , Crystallography, X-Ray , Animals , Cryoelectron Microscopy , HEK293 Cells , Models, Molecular
11.
PLoS One ; 19(5): e0303839, 2024.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38758765

ABSTRACT

The interaction between SARS-CoV-2 non-structural protein Nsp9 and the nanobody 2NSP90 was investigated by NMR spectroscopy using the paramagnetic perturbation methodology PENELOP (Paramagnetic Equilibrium vs Nonequilibrium magnetization Enhancement or LOss Perturbation). The Nsp9 monomer is an essential component of the replication and transcription complex (RTC) that reproduces the viral gRNA for subsequent propagation. Therefore preventing Nsp9 recruitment in RTC would represent an efficient antiviral strategy that could be applied to different coronaviruses, given the Nsp9 relative invariance. The NMR results were consistent with a previous characterization suggesting a 4:4 Nsp9-to-nanobody stoichiometry with the occurrence of two epitope pairs on each of the Nsp9 units that establish the inter-dimer contacts of Nsp9 tetramer. The oligomerization state of Nsp9 was also analyzed by molecular dynamics simulations and both dimers and tetramers resulted plausible. A different distribution of the mapped epitopes on the tetramer surface with respect to the former 4:4 complex could also be possible, as well as different stoichiometries of the Nsp9-nanobody assemblies such as the 2:2 stoichiometry suggested by the recent crystal structure of the Nsp9 complex with 2NSP23 (PDB ID: 8dqu), a nanobody exhibiting essentially the same affinity as 2NSP90. The experimental NMR evidence, however, ruled out the occurrence in liquid state of the relevant Nsp9 conformational change observed in the same crystal structure.


Subject(s)
Epitopes , Molecular Dynamics Simulation , SARS-CoV-2 , Single-Domain Antibodies , Viral Nonstructural Proteins , Viral Nonstructural Proteins/immunology , Viral Nonstructural Proteins/chemistry , Viral Nonstructural Proteins/metabolism , Single-Domain Antibodies/chemistry , Single-Domain Antibodies/immunology , Single-Domain Antibodies/metabolism , SARS-CoV-2/immunology , Epitopes/immunology , Epitopes/chemistry , Humans , Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy , Protein Binding , Protein Multimerization , COVID-19/immunology , COVID-19/virology , RNA-Binding Proteins
12.
Elife ; 122024 May 07.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38712823

ABSTRACT

To date, all major modes of monoclonal antibody therapy targeting SARS-CoV-2 have lost significant efficacy against the latest circulating variants. As SARS-CoV-2 omicron sublineages account for over 90% of COVID-19 infections, evasion of immune responses generated by vaccination or exposure to previous variants poses a significant challenge. A compelling new therapeutic strategy against SARS-CoV-2 is that of single-domain antibodies, termed nanobodies, which address certain limitations of monoclonal antibodies. Here, we demonstrate that our high-affinity nanobody repertoire, generated against wild-type SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (Mast et al., 2021), remains effective against variants of concern, including omicron BA.4/BA.5; a subset is predicted to counter resistance in emerging XBB and BQ.1.1 sublineages. Furthermore, we reveal the synergistic potential of nanobody cocktails in neutralizing emerging variants. Our study highlights the power of nanobody technology as a versatile therapeutic and diagnostic tool to combat rapidly evolving infectious diseases such as SARS-CoV-2.


Subject(s)
Antibodies, Neutralizing , Antibodies, Viral , COVID-19 , SARS-CoV-2 , Single-Domain Antibodies , Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus , Single-Domain Antibodies/immunology , SARS-CoV-2/immunology , Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/immunology , Humans , COVID-19/immunology , COVID-19/virology , Antibodies, Viral/immunology , Antibodies, Viral/therapeutic use , Antibodies, Neutralizing/immunology , Animals
13.
Int J Mol Sci ; 25(9)2024 Apr 27.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38732011

ABSTRACT

Immunoglobulin G-based monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have been effective in treating various diseases, but their large molecular size can limit their penetration of tissue and efficacy in multifactorial diseases, necessitating the exploration of alternative forms. In this study, we constructed a phage display library comprising single-domain antibodies (sdAbs; or "VHHs"), known for their small size and remarkable stability, using a total of 1.6 × 109 lymphocytes collected from 20 different alpacas, resulting in approximately 7.16 × 1010 colonies. To assess the quality of the constructed library, next-generation sequencing-based high-throughput profiling was performed, analyzing approximately 5.65 × 106 full-length VHH sequences, revealing 92% uniqueness and confirming the library's diverse composition. Systematic characterization of the library revealed multiple sdAbs with high affinity for three therapeutically relevant antigens. In conclusion, our alpaca sdAb phage display library provides a versatile resource for diagnostics and therapeutics. Furthermore, the library's vast natural VHH antibody repertoire offers insights for generating humanized synthetic sdAb libraries, further advancing sdAb-based therapeutics.


Subject(s)
Camelids, New World , Peptide Library , Single-Domain Antibodies , Single-Domain Antibodies/genetics , Single-Domain Antibodies/immunology , Single-Domain Antibodies/chemistry , Animals , Camelids, New World/immunology , High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing , Humans , Antibodies, Monoclonal/immunology , Antibodies, Monoclonal/genetics , High-Throughput Screening Assays/methods , Antibody Affinity , Cell Surface Display Techniques/methods
14.
J Nanobiotechnology ; 22(1): 279, 2024 May 23.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38783333

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: BCMA-directed autologous chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cells have shown excellent clinical efficacy in relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM), however, the current preparation process for autologous CAR-T cells is complicated and costly. Moreover, the upregulation of CD47 expression has been observed in multiple myeloma, and anti-CD47 antibodies have shown remarkable results in clinical trials. Therefore, we focus on the development of BCMA/CD47-directed universal CAR-T (UCAR-T) cells to improve these limitations. METHODS: In this study, we employed phage display technology to screen nanobodies against BCMA and CD47 protein, and determined the characterization of nanobodies. Furthermore, we simultaneously disrupted the endogenous TRAC and B2M genes of T cells using CRISPR/Cas9 system to generate TCR and HLA double knock-out T cells, and developed BCMA/CD47-directed UCAR-T cells and detected the antitumor activity in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS: We obtained fourteen and one specific nanobodies against BCMA and CD47 protein from the immunized VHH library, respectively. BCMA/CD47-directed UCAR-T cells exhibited superior CAR expression (89.13-98.03%), and effectively killing primary human MM cells and MM cell lines. BCMA/CD47-directed UCAR-T cells demonstrated excellent antitumor activity against MM and prolonged the survival of tumor-engrafted NCG mice in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: This work demonstrated that BCMA/CD47-directed UCAR-T cells exhibited potent antitumor activity against MM in vitro and in vivo, which provides a potential strategy for the development of a novel "off-the-shelf" cellular immunotherapies for the treatment of multiple myeloma.


Subject(s)
B-Cell Maturation Antigen , CD47 Antigen , Immunotherapy, Adoptive , Multiple Myeloma , Receptors, Chimeric Antigen , Multiple Myeloma/therapy , Multiple Myeloma/immunology , Humans , Animals , CD47 Antigen/immunology , B-Cell Maturation Antigen/immunology , Mice , Immunotherapy, Adoptive/methods , Cell Line, Tumor , Receptors, Chimeric Antigen/immunology , Single-Domain Antibodies/immunology , Single-Domain Antibodies/pharmacology , T-Lymphocytes/immunology , CRISPR-Cas Systems , Female
15.
J Med Virol ; 96(6): e29692, 2024 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38804172

ABSTRACT

To achieve a virological cure for hepatitis B virus (HBV), innovative strategies are required to target the covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) genome. Guanine-quadruplexes (G4s) are a secondary structure that can be adopted by DNA and play a significant role in regulating viral replication, transcription, and translation. Antibody-based probes and small molecules have been developed to study the role of G4s in the context of the human genome, but none have been specifically made to target G4s in viral infection. Herein, we describe the development of a humanized single-domain antibody (S10) that can target a G4 located in the PreCore (PreC) promoter of the HBV cccDNA genome. MicroScale Thermophoresis demonstrated that S10 has a strong nanomolar affinity to the PreC G4 in its quadruplex form and a structural electron density envelope of the complex was determined using Small-Angle X-ray Scattering. Lentiviral transduction of S10 into HepG2-NTCP cells shows nuclear localization, and chromatin immunoprecipitation coupled with next-generation sequencing demonstrated that S10 can bind to the HBV PreC G4 present on the cccDNA. This research validates the existence of a G4 in HBV cccDNA and demonstrates that this DNA secondary structure can be targeted with high structural and sequence specificity using S10.


Subject(s)
DNA, Circular , DNA, Viral , G-Quadruplexes , Hepatitis B virus , Single-Domain Antibodies , Humans , Hepatitis B virus/genetics , Hepatitis B virus/immunology , DNA, Circular/genetics , DNA, Viral/genetics , Hep G2 Cells , Single-Domain Antibodies/genetics , Single-Domain Antibodies/immunology , Single-Domain Antibodies/chemistry , Genome, Viral , Promoter Regions, Genetic , Virus Replication , Hepatitis B/virology
16.
Lab Chip ; 24(11): 2944-2957, 2024 May 28.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38716822

ABSTRACT

In vitro display technologies such as yeast display have been instrumental in developing the selection of new antibodies, antibody fragments or nanobodies that bind to a specific target, with affinity towards the target being the main factor that influences selection outcome. However, the roles of mechanical forces are being increasingly recognized as a crucial factor in the regulation and activation of effector cell function. It would thus be of interest to isolate binders behaving optimally under the influence of mechanical forces. We developed a microfluidic assay allowing the selection of yeast displaying nanobodies through antigen-specific immobilization on a surface under controlled hydrodynamic flow. This approach enabled enrichment of model yeast mixtures using tunable antigen density and applied force. This new force-based selection method opens the possibility of selecting binders by relying on both their affinity and force resistance, with implications for the design of more efficient immunotherapeutics.


Subject(s)
Antigens , Saccharomyces cerevisiae , Single-Domain Antibodies , Single-Domain Antibodies/chemistry , Single-Domain Antibodies/metabolism , Single-Domain Antibodies/immunology , Saccharomyces cerevisiae/metabolism , Antigens/immunology , Antigens/metabolism , Microfluidic Analytical Techniques/instrumentation
17.
Front Immunol ; 15: 1389018, 2024.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38720898

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Multiple myeloma (MM) remains incurable, despite the advent of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy. This unfulfilled potential can be attributed to two untackled issues: the lack of suitable CAR targets and formats. In relation to the former, the target should be highly expressed and reluctant to shedding; two characteristics that are attributed to the CS1-antigen. Furthermore, conventional CARs rely on scFvs for antigen recognition, yet this withholds disadvantages, mainly caused by the intrinsic instability of this format. VHHs have been proposed as valid scFv alternatives. We therefore intended to develop VHH-based CAR-T cells, targeting CS1, and to identify VHHs that induce optimal CAR-T cell activation together with the VHH parameters required to achieve this. Methods: CS1-specific VHHs were generated, identified and fully characterized, in vitro and in vivo. Next, they were incorporated into second-generation CARs that only differ in their antigen-binding moiety. Reporter T-cell lines were lentivirally transduced with the different VHH-CARs and CAR-T cell activation kinetics were evaluated side-by-side. Affinity, cell-binding capacity, epitope location, in vivo behavior, binding distance, and orientation of the CAR-T:MM cell interaction pair were investigated as predictive parameters for CAR-T cell activation. Results: Our data show that the VHHs affinity for its target antigen is relatively predictive for its in vivo tumor-tracing capacity, as tumor uptake generally decreased with decreasing affinity in an in vivo model of MM. This does not hold true for their CAR-T cell activation potential, as some intermediate affinity-binding VHHs proved surprisingly potent, while some higher affinity VHHs failed to induce equal levels of T-cell activation. This could not be attributed to cell-binding capacity, in vivo VHH behavior, epitope location, cell-to-cell distance or binding orientation. Hence, none of the investigated parameters proved to have significant predictive value for the extent of CAR-T cell activation. Conclusions: We gained insight into the predictive parameters of VHHs in the CAR-context using a VHH library against CS1, a highly relevant MM antigen. As none of the studied VHH parameters had predictive value, defining VHHs for optimal CAR-T cell activation remains bound to serendipity. These findings highlight the importance of screening multiple candidates.


Subject(s)
Immunotherapy, Adoptive , Multiple Myeloma , Receptors, Chimeric Antigen , Single-Domain Antibodies , Multiple Myeloma/immunology , Multiple Myeloma/therapy , Humans , Receptors, Chimeric Antigen/immunology , Receptors, Chimeric Antigen/genetics , Receptors, Chimeric Antigen/metabolism , Single-Domain Antibodies/immunology , Immunotherapy, Adoptive/methods , Animals , Cell Line, Tumor , Mice , Lymphocyte Activation/immunology , T-Lymphocytes/immunology , T-Lymphocytes/metabolism , Signaling Lymphocytic Activation Molecule Family/immunology , Signaling Lymphocytic Activation Molecule Family/metabolism , Single-Chain Antibodies/immunology , Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
18.
MAbs ; 16(1): 2341443, 2024.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38666503

ABSTRACT

The development of bispecific antibodies that bind at least two different targets relies on bringing together multiple binding domains with different binding properties and biophysical characteristics to produce a drug-like therapeutic. These building blocks play an important role in the overall quality of the molecule and can influence many important aspects from potency and specificity to stability and half-life. Single-domain antibodies, particularly camelid-derived variable heavy domain of heavy chain (VHH) antibodies, are becoming an increasingly popular choice for bispecific construction due to their single-domain modularity, favorable biophysical properties, and potential to work in multiple antibody formats. Here, we review the use of VHH domains as building blocks in the construction of multispecific antibodies and the challenges in creating optimized molecules. In addition to exploring traditional approaches to VHH development, we review the integration of machine learning techniques at various stages of the process. Specifically, the utilization of machine learning for structural prediction, lead identification, lead optimization, and humanization of VHH antibodies.


Subject(s)
Antibodies, Bispecific , Machine Learning , Single-Domain Antibodies , Antibodies, Bispecific/immunology , Antibodies, Bispecific/chemistry , Humans , Single-Domain Antibodies/immunology , Single-Domain Antibodies/chemistry , Animals , Protein Engineering/methods , Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains/immunology , Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains/chemistry
19.
J Proteome Res ; 23(5): 1559-1570, 2024 May 03.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38603467

ABSTRACT

The ongoing evolution of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has led to the emergence of different variants of concerns with immune evasion that have been prevalent over the past three years. Nanobodies, the functional variable regions of camelid heavy-chain-only antibodies, have garnered interest in developing neutralizing antibodies due to their smaller size, structural stability, ease of production, high affinity, and low immunogenicity, among other characteristics. In this work, we describe an integrated proteomics platform for the high-throughput screening of nanobodies against different SARS-CoV-2 spike variants. To demonstrate this platform, we immunized a camel with subunit 1 (S1) of the wild-type spike protein and constructed a nanobody phage library. The binding and neutralizing activities of the nanobodies against 72 spike variants were then measured, resulting in the identification of two nanobodies (C-282 and C-39) with broad neutralizing activity against six non-Omicron variants (D614G, Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Kappa) and five Omicron variants (BA.1-5). Their neutralizing capability was validated using in vitro pseudovirus-based neutralization assays. All these results demonstrate the utility of our proteomics platform to identify new nanobodies with broad neutralizing capability and to develop a treatment for patients with SARS-CoV-2 variant infection in the future.


Subject(s)
Antibodies, Neutralizing , Antibodies, Viral , COVID-19 , Camelus , Proteomics , SARS-CoV-2 , Single-Domain Antibodies , Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus , SARS-CoV-2/immunology , Antibodies, Neutralizing/immunology , Single-Domain Antibodies/immunology , Single-Domain Antibodies/chemistry , Proteomics/methods , Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/immunology , Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/chemistry , Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/genetics , Animals , Humans , COVID-19/immunology , COVID-19/virology , Antibodies, Viral/immunology , Neutralization Tests
20.
Int Immunopharmacol ; 132: 111944, 2024 May 10.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38581990

ABSTRACT

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most lethal malignancy worldwide owing to its complex tumour microenvironment and dense physical barriers. Stromal-derived factor-1 (SDF-1), which is abundantly secreted by tumour stromal cells, plays a pivotal role in promoting PDAC growth and metastasis. In this study, we investigated the impact and molecular mechanisms of the anti-PD-L1&CXCR4 bispecific nanobody on the TME and their consequent interference with PDAC progression. We found that blocking the SDF-1/CXCR4 signalling pathway delayed the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in pancreatic cancer cells. Anti-PD-L1&CXCR4 bispecific nanobody effectively suppress the secretion of SDF-1 by pancreatic stellate cells and downregulate the expression of smooth muscle actin alpha(α-SMA), thereby preventing the activation of cancer-associated fibroblasts by downregulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. This improves the pancreatic tumour microenvironment, favouring the infiltration of T cells into the tumour tissue. In conclusion, our results suggest that the anti-PD-L1&CXCR4 bispecific nanobody exerts an antitumor immune response by changing the pancreatic tumour microenvironment. Hence, the anti-PD-L1&CXCR4 bispecific nanobody is a potential candidate for pancreatic cancer treatment.


Subject(s)
B7-H1 Antigen , Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal , Chemokine CXCL12 , Pancreatic Neoplasms , Pancreatic Stellate Cells , Receptors, CXCR4 , Single-Domain Antibodies , Tumor Microenvironment , Tumor Microenvironment/immunology , Tumor Microenvironment/drug effects , Pancreatic Stellate Cells/metabolism , Pancreatic Stellate Cells/drug effects , Receptors, CXCR4/metabolism , Receptors, CXCR4/antagonists & inhibitors , Receptors, CXCR4/immunology , Humans , Pancreatic Neoplasms/immunology , Pancreatic Neoplasms/pathology , Pancreatic Neoplasms/drug therapy , Pancreatic Neoplasms/metabolism , B7-H1 Antigen/metabolism , B7-H1 Antigen/antagonists & inhibitors , B7-H1 Antigen/immunology , Cell Line, Tumor , Animals , Chemokine CXCL12/metabolism , Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal/immunology , Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal/pathology , Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal/drug therapy , Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal/metabolism , Single-Domain Antibodies/pharmacology , Single-Domain Antibodies/immunology , Signal Transduction , Mice , Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition/drug effects , Disease Progression
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