Insight into the avidity-affinity relationship of the bivalent, pH-dependent interaction between IgG and FcRn.

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) as therapeutics necessitate favorable pharmacokinetic properties, including extended serum half-life, achieved through pH-dependent binding to the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn). While prior research has mainly investigated IgG-FcRn binding kinetics with a focus on single affinity values, it has been shown that each IgG molecule can engage two FcRn molecules throughout an endosomal pH gradient. As such, we present here a more comprehensive analysis of these interactions with an emphasis on both affinity and avidity by taking advantage of switchSENSE technology, a surface-based biosensor where recombinant FcRn was immobilized via short DNA nanolevers, mimicking the membranous orientation of the receptor. The results revealed insight into the avidity-to-affinity relationship, where assessing binding through a pH gradient ranging from pH 5.8 to 7.4 showed that the half-life extended IgG1-YTE has an affinity inflection point at pH 7.2, reflecting its engineering for improved FcRn binding compared with the wild-type counterpart. Furthermore, IgG1-YTE displayed a pH switch for the avidity enhancement factor at pH 6.2, reflecting strong receptor binding to both sides of the YTE-containing Fc, while avidity was abolished at pH 7.4. When compared with classical surface plasmon resonance (SPR) technology and complementary methods, the use of switchSENSE demonstrated superior capabilities in differentiating affinity from avidity within a single measurement. Thus, the methodology provides reliable kinetic rate parameters for both binding modes and their direct relationship as a function of pH. Also, it deciphers the potential effect of the variable Fab arms on FcRn binding, in which SPR has limitations. Our study offers guidance for how FcRn binding properties can be studied for IgG engineering strategies.

CDR grafting and site-directed mutagenesis approach for the generation and affinity maturation of Anti-CD20 nanobody.

BACKGROUND: Recently, new and advanced techniques have been adopted to design and produce nanobodies, which are used in diagnostic and immunotherapy treatments. Traditionally, nanobodies are prepared from camelid immune libraries that require animal treatments. However, such approaches require large library sizes and complicated selection procedures. The current study has employed CDR grafting and site-directed mutagenesis techniques to create genetically engineered nanobodies against the tumor marker CD20 (anti-CD20 nanobodies) used in leukemia treatment. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this study, we utilized the swapping method to graft CDRs from the VH Rituximab antibody to VHH CDRs. We aimed to enhance the binding affinity of the nanobodies by substituting the amino acids (Y101R-Y102R-Y107R) in the VHH-CDR3. To assess the binding capacity of the mutated nanobodies, we conducted an ELISA test. Moreover, through flow cytometry analysis, we compared the fluorescence intensity of the grafted CD20 and mutant nanobodies with that of the commercially available human anti-CD20 in Raji cells. The results showed a significant difference in the fluorescence intensity of the grafted nanobodies and mutant nanobodies when compared to the commercially available human anti-CD20. CONCLUSION: The approach we followed in this study makes it possible to create multiple anti-CD20 nanobodies with varying affinities without the need for extensive selection efforts. Additionally, our research has demonstrated that computational tools are highly reliable in designing functional nanobodies.

Isolation and characterization of Hc-targeting chimeric heavy chain antibodies neutralizing botulinum neurotoxin type B.

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.

One-dose intradermal rabies booster enhances rabies antibody production and avidity maturation.

The incidence of rabies in Thailand reached its peak in 2018 with 18 human deaths. Preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) vaccination is thus recommended for high-risk populations. WHO has recently recommended that patients who are exposed to a suspected rabid animal and have already been immunized against rabies should receive a 1-site intradermal (ID) injection of 0.1 mL on days 0 and 3 as postexposure prophylaxis (PEP). In Thailand, village health and livestock volunteers tasked with annual dog vaccination typically receive only a single lifetime PrEP dose and subsequent boosters solely upon confirmed animal bites. However, the adequacy of a single PrEP dose for priming and maintaining immunity in this high-risk group has not been evaluated. Therefore, our study was designed to address two key questions: (1) sufficiency of single-dose PrEP-to determine whether a single ID PrEP dose provides adequate long-term immune protection for high-risk individuals exposed to numerous dogs during their vaccination duties. (2) Booster efficacy for immune maturation-to investigate whether one or two additional ID booster doses effectively stimulate a mature and sustained antibody response in this population. The level and persistence of the rabies antibody were determined by comparing the immunogenicity and booster efficacy among the vaccination groups. Our study demonstrated that rabies antibodies persisted for more than 180 days after cost-effective ID PrEP or the 1st or the 2nd single ID booster dose, and adequate antibody levels were detected in more than 95% of participants by CEE-cELISA and 100% by indirect ELISA. Moreover, the avidity maturation of rabies-specific antibodies occurred after the 1st single ID booster dose. This smaller ID booster regimen was sufficient for producing a sufficient immune response and enhancing the maturation of anti-rabies antibodies. This safe and effective PrEP regimen and a single visit involving a one-dose ID booster are recommended, and at least one one-dose ID booster regimen could be equitably implemented in at-risk people in Thailand and other developing countries. However, an adequate antibody level should be monitored before the booster is administered.

A structure-function analysis shows SARS-CoV-2 BA.2.86 balances antibody escape and ACE2 affinity.

BA.2.86, a recently described sublineage of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron, contains many mutations in the spike gene. It appears to have originated from BA.2 and is distinct from the XBB variants responsible for many infections in 2023. The global spread and plethora of mutations in BA.2.86 has caused concern that it may possess greater immune-evasive potential, leading to a new wave of infection. Here, we examine the ability of BA.2.86 to evade the antibody response to infection using a panel of vaccinated or naturally infected sera and find that it shows marginally less immune evasion than XBB.1.5. We locate BA.2.86 in the antigenic landscape of recent variants and look at its ability to escape panels of potent monoclonal antibodies generated against contemporary SARS-CoV-2 infections. We demonstrate, and provide a structural explanation for, increased affinity of BA.2.86 to ACE2, which may increase transmissibility.

Seroprevalence and sociodemographic characteristics of Toxoplasma gondii infection in patients with psychiatric disorders in Malaysia.

Toxoplasma gondii is a neurotropic protozoan parasite that affects neuronal processing in the brain. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of T. gondii infection in psychiatric disorder patients. We also investigated the potential association between sociodemographic, clinical manifestation, and behavior of Toxoplasma-seropositive patients with psychiatric disorders. Commercial ELISAs (IgG, IgM, and IgG avidity) using serum and PCR using buffy coat were performed on samples from 54 individuals in each of the following groups: patients diagnosed with depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia, as well as psychiatrically healthy subjects (control group). They were recruited from the Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia in Kelantan, Malaysia. Of 54 patients with depressive disorder, 24/54 (44.4 %) were seropositive for IgG, and four (16.7 %) were IgG+/IgM+. Among the latter, a high avidity index indicating a past infection was observed in half of the samples (50.0 %), and the other half (50.0 %) showed a low avidity index, indicating a possible recent infection. Meanwhile, 30/54 (55.6 %) patients with bipolar disorder were seropositive for IgG+, five (16.7 %) were IgG+/IgM+, and four of them had a high avidity index, and one had a low avidity index. Patients with schizophrenia showed 29/54 (53.7 %) seropositive for IgG, two of them (6.9 %) were IgG+/IgM+; one of latter had a high avidity index, and one had a low avidity index. Of 54 people in the control group, 37.0 % (20/54) were seropositive for T. gondii IgG antibodies. However, no significant difference was observed in seroprevalence between the control group and each patient group. No PCR-positive results were documented. A Chi-Square and multiple logistic regression showed that age (p = 0.031), close contact with cats/pets (p = 0.033) and contact with soil (p = 0.012) were significantly associated with Toxoplasma seropositivity in patients with psychiatric disorders. Additional research is needed to elucidate the causal relationships and underlying mechanisms.

A benchmark for evaluation of structure-based online tools for antibody-antigen binding affinity.

The prediction of binding affinity changes caused by missense mutations can elucidate antigen-antibody interactions. A few accessible structure-based online computational tools have been proposed. However, selecting suitable software for particular research is challenging, especially research on the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein with antibodies. Therefore, benchmarking of the mutation-diverse SARS-CoV-2 datasets is critical. Here, we collected the datasets including 1216 variants about the changes in binding affinity of antigens from 22 complexes for SARS-CoV-2 S proteins and 22 monoclonal antibodies as well as applied them to evaluate the performance of seven binding affinity prediction tools. The tested tools' Pearson correlations between predicted and measured changes in binding affinity were between -0.158 and 0.657, while accuracy in classification tasks on predicting increasing or decreasing affinity ranged from 0.444 to 0.834. These tools performed relatively better on predicting single mutations, especially at epitope sites, whereas poor performance on extremely decreasing affinity. The tested tools were relatively insensitive to the experimental techniques used to obtain structures of complexes. In summary, we constructed a list of datasets and evaluated a range of structure-based online prediction tools that will explicate relevant processes of antigen-antibody interactions and enhance the computational design of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies.

Affinity gaps among B cells in germinal centers drive the selection of MPER precursors.

Current prophylactic human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) vaccine research aims to elicit broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs). Membrane-proximal external region (MPER)-targeting bnAbs, such as 10E8, provide exceptionally broad neutralization, but some are autoreactive. Here, we generated humanized B cell antigen receptor knock-in mouse models to test whether a series of germline-targeting immunogens could drive MPER-specific precursors toward bnAbs. We found that recruitment of 10E8 precursors to germinal centers (GCs) required a minimum affinity for germline-targeting immunogens, but the GC residency of MPER precursors was brief due to displacement by higher-affinity endogenous B cell competitors. Higher-affinity germline-targeting immunogens extended the GC residency of MPER precursors, but robust long-term GC residency and maturation were only observed for MPER-HuGL18, an MPER precursor clonotype able to close the affinity gap with endogenous B cell competitors in the GC. Thus, germline-targeting immunogens could induce MPER-targeting antibodies, and B cell residency in the GC may be regulated by a precursor-competitor affinity gap.

Development of a new affinity maturation protocol for the construction of an internalizing anti-nucleolin antibody library.

Over the last decades, monoclonal antibodies have substantially improved the treatment of several conditions. The continuous search for novel therapeutic targets and improvements in antibody's structure, demands for a constant optimization of their development. In this regard, modulation of an antibody's affinity to its target has been largely explored and culminated in the discovery and optimization of a variety of molecules. It involves the creation of antibody libraries and selection against the target of interest. In this work, we aimed at developing a novel protocol to be used for the affinity maturation of an antibody previously developed by our group. An antibody library was constructed using an in vivo random mutagenesis approach that, to our knowledge, has not been used before for antibody development. Then, a cell-based phage display selection protocol was designed to allow the fast and simple screening of antibody clones capable of being internalized by target cells. Next generation sequencing coupled with computer analysis provided an extensive characterization of the created library and post-selection pool, that can be used as a guide for future antibody development. With a single selection step, an enrichment in the mutated antibody library, given by a decrease in almost 50% in sequence diversity, was achieved, and structural information useful in the study of the antibody-target interaction in the future was obtained.

Understanding the Specific Implications of Amino Acids in the Antibody Development.

As the demand for immunotherapy to treat and manage cancers, infectious diseases and other disorders grows, a comprehensive understanding of amino acids and their intricate role in antibody engineering has become a prime requirement. Naturally produced antibodies may not have the most suitable amino acids at the complementarity determining regions (CDR) and framework regions, for therapeutic purposes. Therefore, to enhance the binding affinity and therapeutic properties of an antibody, the specific impact of certain amino acids on the antibody's architecture must be thoroughly studied. In antibody engineering, it is crucial to identify the key amino acid residues that significantly contribute to improving antibody properties. Therapeutic antibodies with higher binding affinity and improved functionality can be achieved through modifications or substitutions with highly suitable amino acid residues. Here, we have indicated the frequency of amino acids and their association with the binding free energy in CDRs. The review also analyzes the experimental outcome of two studies that reveal the frequency of amino acids in CDRs and provides their significant correlation between the outcomes. Additionally, it discusses the various bond interactions within the antibody structure and antigen binding. A detailed understanding of these amino acid properties should assist in the analysis of antibody sequences and structures needed for designing and enhancing the overall performance of therapeutic antibodies.

Measles IgG Avidity Assay.

Measles IgG avidity assays determine the overall strength of molecular binding between measles-specific IgG antibodies and measles virus antigens. Avidity results can distinguish recent from distant measles virus infections. Individuals who are immunologically naïve to measles virus develop low-avidity antibodies upon measles virus infection or first-time vaccination. Within 4-6 months, antibodies mature to high avidity. Measles avidity assays are most useful in the context of measles elimination. In such settings, avidity and epidemiological and clinical information are used to classify measles breakthrough infections for control and surveillance purposes and to assist in case confirmation when other laboratory results are inconclusive or nonexistent. We present a highly accurate end-titer measles avidity assay that delivers results based on IgG quality (avidity) that are independent of IgG concentration.

Hybrid response to SARS-CoV-2 and Neisseria meningitidis C after an OMV-adjuvanted immunization in mice and their offspring.

COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, and meningococcal disease, caused by Neisseria meningitidis, are relevant infectious diseases, preventable through vaccination. Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs), released from Gram-negative bacteria, such as N. meningitidis, present adjuvant characteristics and may confer protection against meningococcal disease. Here, we evaluated in mice the humoral and cellular immune response to different doses of receptor binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 adjuvanted by N. meningitidis C:2a:P1.5 OMVs and aluminum hydroxide, as a combined preparation for these pathogens. The immunization induced IgG antibodies of high avidity for RBD and OMVs, besides IgG that recognized the Omicron BA.2 variant of SARS-CoV-2 with intermediary avidity. Cellular immunity showed IFN-γ and IL-4 secretion in response to RBD and OMV stimuli, demonstrating immunologic memory and a mixed Th1/Th2 response. Offspring presented transferred IgG of similar levels and avidity as their mothers. Humoral immunity did not point to the superiority of any RBD dose, but the group immunized with a lower antigenic dose (0.5 µg) had the better cellular response. Overall, OMVs enhanced RBD immunogenicity and conferred an immune response directed to N. meningitidis too.

Development, High-Throughput Profiling, and Biopanning of a Large Phage Display Single-Domain Antibody Library.

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.

An integrated technology for quantitative wide mutational scanning of human antibody Fab libraries.

Antibodies are engineerable quantities in medicine. Learning antibody molecular recognition would enable the in silico design of high affinity binders against nearly any proteinaceous surface. Yet, publicly available experiment antibody sequence-binding datasets may not contain the mutagenic, antigenic, or antibody sequence diversity necessary for deep learning approaches to capture molecular recognition. In part, this is because limited experimental platforms exist for assessing quantitative and simultaneous sequence-function relationships for multiple antibodies. Here we present MAGMA-seq, an integrated technology that combines multiple antigens and multiple antibodies and determines quantitative biophysical parameters using deep sequencing. We demonstrate MAGMA-seq on two pooled libraries comprising mutants of nine different human antibodies spanning light chain gene usage, CDR H3 length, and antigenic targets. We demonstrate the comprehensive mapping of potential antibody development pathways, sequence-binding relationships for multiple antibodies simultaneously, and identification of paratope sequence determinants for binding recognition for broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs). MAGMA-seq enables rapid and scalable antibody engineering of multiple lead candidates because it can measure binding for mutants of many given parental antibodies in a single experiment.

Csk restrains BCR-mediated ROS production and contributes to germinal center selection and affinity maturation.

Compared with naïve B cells, the B cell receptor (BCR) signal in germinal center (GC) B cells is attenuated; however, the significance of this signaling attenuation has not been well defined. Here, to investigate the role of attenuation of BCR signaling, we employed a Csk mutant mouse model in which Csk deficiency in GC B cells resulted in augmentation of net BCR signaling with no apparent effect on antigen presentation. We found that Csk is required for GC maintenance and efficient antibody affinity maturation. Mechanistically, ROS-induced apoptosis was exacerbated concomitantly with mitochondrial dysfunction in Csk-deficient GC B cells. Hence, our data suggest that attenuation of the BCR signal restrains hyper-ROS production, thereby protecting GC B cells from apoptosis and contributing to efficient affinity maturation.

Microfluidic Diffusional Sizing (MDS) Measurements of Secretory Neutralizing Antibody Affinity Against SARS-CoV-2.

SARS-CoV-2 has rampantly spread around the globe and continues to cause unprecedented loss through ongoing waves of (re)infection. Increasing our understanding of the protection against infection with SARS-CoV-2 is critical to ending the pandemic. Serological assays have been widely used to assess immune responses, but secretory antibodies, the essential first line of defense, have been studied to only a limited extent. Of particular interest and importance are neutralizing antibodies, which block the binding of the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 to the human receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) and thus are essential for immune defense. Here, we employed Microfluidic Diffusional Sizing (MDS), an immobilization-free technology, to characterize neutralizing antibody affinity to SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor-binding domain (RBD) and spike trimer in saliva. Affinity measurement was obtained through a contrived sample and buffer using recombinant SARS-CoV-2 RBD and monoclonal antibody. Limited saliva samples demonstrated that MDS applies to saliva neutralizing antibody measurement. The ability to disrupt a complex of ACE2-Fc and spike trimer is shown. Using a quantitative assay on the patient sample, we determined the affinity and binding site concentration of the neutralizing antibodies.

In vivo affinity maturation of mouse B cells reprogrammed to express human antibodies.

Mice adoptively transferred with mouse B cells edited via CRISPR to express human antibody variable chains could help evaluate candidate vaccines and develop better antibody therapies. However, current editing strategies disrupt the heavy-chain locus, resulting in inefficient somatic hypermutation without functional affinity maturation. Here we show that these key B-cell functions can be preserved by directly and simultaneously replacing recombined mouse heavy and kappa chains with those of human antibodies, using a single Cas12a-mediated cut at each locus and 5' homology arms complementary to distal V segments. Cells edited in this way to express the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) broadly neutralizing antibody 10-1074 or VRC26.25-y robustly hypermutated and generated potent neutralizing plasma in vaccinated mice. The 10-1074 variants isolated from the mice neutralized a global panel of HIV-1 isolates more efficiently than wild-type 10-1074 while maintaining its low polyreactivity and long half-life. We also used the approach to improve the potency of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies against recent Omicron strains. In vivo affinity maturation of B cells edited at their native loci may facilitate the development of broad, potent and bioavailable antibodies.

A dual computational and experimental strategy to enhance TSLP antibody affinity for improved asthma treatment.

Thymic stromal lymphopoietin is a key cytokine involved in the pathogenesis of asthma and other allergic diseases. Targeting TSLP and its signaling pathways is increasingly recognized as an effective strategy for asthma treatment. This study focused on enhancing the affinity of the T6 antibody, which specifically targets TSLP, by integrating computational and experimental methods. The initial affinity of the T6 antibody for TSLP was lower than the benchmark antibody AMG157. To improve this, we utilized alanine scanning, molecular docking, and computational tools including mCSM-PPI2 and GEO-PPI to identify critical amino acid residues for site-directed mutagenesis. Subsequent mutations and experimental validations resulted in an antibody with significantly enhanced blocking capacity against TSLP. Our findings demonstrate the potential of computer-assisted techniques in expediting antibody affinity maturation, thereby reducing both the time and cost of experiments. The integration of computational methods with experimental approaches holds great promise for the development of targeted therapeutic antibodies for TSLP-related diseases.

A Diagnostic Challenge: Toxoplasmosis Masquerading as Tonsillar Neoplasm.

This case report elucidates an uncommon manifestation of toxoplasmosis characterized by an ulcerative oropharyngeal lesion and cervical lymphadenopathy, which intriguingly simulated a tonsillar neoplasm. The patient, a 28-year-old immunocompetent woman, reported symptoms such as a persistent sore throat, unilateral neck pain, and otalgia. Despite the initial clinical impressions, a diagnostic left subtotal tonsillectomy revealed no malignancy but marked acute and chronic inflammation. A comprehensive investigation subsequently indicated a recent primary infection with Toxoplasma gondii, as evidenced by the presence of high IgM antibodies and low IgG avidity. This unique case underlines the significance of incorporating toxoplasmosis into the differential diagnosis of oropharyngeal lesions, thereby necessitating a meticulous approach to laboratory testing. Laryngoscope, 134:1741-1743, 2024.