Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Emanuele Andreano, Ida Paciello, Silvia Marchese, Lorena Donnici, Giulio Pierleoni, Giulia Piccini, Noemi Manganaro, Elisa Pantano, Valentina Abbiento, Piero Pileri, Linda Benincasa, Ginevra Giglioli, Margherita Leonardi, Piet Maes, Concetta De Santi, Claudia Sala, Emanuele Montomoli, Raffaele De Francesco, Rino Rappuoli
Summary: In this study, Andreano and Paciello et al. provide insights into the functional and genetic characteristics of the Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 cross-protective antibody response. Their findings reveal that SARS-CoV-2 vaccines can induce neutralizing antibodies that cross-neutralize the Omicron variants and SARS-CoV-1 virus.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Biology
Cecylia Severin Lupala, Vikash Kumar, Xiao-Dong Su, Chun Wu, Haiguang Liu
Summary: This study reveals the differences in interactions between ACE2 from different mammals and SARS-CoV-2 RBD through analyzing sequence, structure, and dynamics data, providing important clues for further research on the relationships between these animals and the virus.
COMPUTERS IN BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yunxia He, Weili Yu, Lijuan Shen, Wenying Yan, Lucheng Xiao, Jinming Qi, Tao Hu
Summary: The study demonstrates that covalent conjugation with IC28 and mannan significantly enhances the immune response to respiratory viral infection, generating high levels of neutralizing antibodies. This has important implications for the development of an affordable and easily producible COVID-19 vaccine.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Arun Bahadur Gurung, Mohammad Ajmal Ali, Joongku Lee, Mohammad Abul Farah, Khalid Mashay Al-Anazi, Fahad Al-Hemaid, Hiba Sami
Summary: This study investigated the impact of mutations in the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus on its binding affinity to the ACE2 receptor. The findings suggest that these mutations increase the binding affinity, potentially leading to higher virulence and infectivity of emerging variants. The study provides insights for designing therapeutics targeting the interface between the spike protein and ACE2 receptor.
JOURNAL OF KING SAUD UNIVERSITY SCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Immunology
Ling Niu, Kathryn N. Wittrock, Gage C. Clabaugh, Vikram Srivastava, Michael W. Cho
Summary: This review summarizes the current understanding of the structural landscape of neutralizing antibodies targeting the RBD of SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein. It discusses the potential impact of identifying sites of vulnerability and the formation of better vaccines and immunotherapeutics. The review also highlights the importance of additional analysis of vaccine-induced nAbs in the development of improved vaccines.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Arasu Balasubramaniyam, Emma Ryan, Dallas Brown, Therwa Hamza, William Harrison, Michael Gan, Rajeshwer S. Sankhala, Wei-Hung Chen, Elizabeth J. Martinez, Jaime L. Jensen, Vincent Dussupt, Letzibeth Mendez-Rivera, Sandra Mayer, Jocelyn King, Nelson L. Michael, Jason Regules, Shelly Krebs, Mangala Rao, Gary R. Matyas, M. Gordon Joyce, Adrian H. Batchelor, Gregory D. Gromowski, Sheetij Dutta
Summary: This study evaluated the ability of the Escherichia coli expression system to produce the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and compared it to RBD produced in mammalian cells. The E. coli-produced RBD variants showed similar structural and immunological characteristics to mammalian-expressed RBD and successfully bound to ACE2 receptor and neutralizing SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibodies. Vaccination with E. coli-produced RBDs in mice induced polyclonal antibodies that effectively inhibited RBD association to ACE2 and neutralized SARS-CoV-2 pseudoviruses, including the Omicron variant when produced in both E. coli and mammalian cells.
Review
Biochemical Research Methods
Asif Shajahan, Lauren E. Pepi, Daniel S. Rouhani, Christian Heiss, Parastoo Azadi
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which contains glycosylated proteins that interact with host receptors like hACE2 to facilitate infection. Studies show that these glycosylated proteins play important roles in viral infection and immune evasion, understanding which can aid in developing suitable prevention and therapy strategies.
ANALYTICAL AND BIOANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ritika Khatri, Hilal Ahmad Parray, Ashish Kumar Agrahari, Zaigham Abbas Rizvi, Rachel Kaul, Sneha Raj, Shailendra Asthana, Shailendra Mani, Sweety Samal, Amit Awasthi, Shubbir Ahmed
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 has had a significant impact on the global economy and healthcare. Vaccines are the most effective tools in controlling the spread of infectious diseases, and current vaccines for SARS-CoV-2 are based on the spike protein of the virus. However, this protein may result in non-neutralizing antibody responses. This study explores the possibility of inducing a neutralizing antibody response by focusing on the receptor binding motif (RBM) of the spike protein.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Miladys Limonta-Fernandez, Glay Chinea-Santiago, Alejandro Miguel Martin-Dunn, Diamile Gonzalez-Roche, Monica Bequet-Romero, Gabriel Marquez-Perera, Isabel Gonzalez-Moya, Camila Canaan-Haden-Ayala, Ania Cabrales-Rico, Luis Ariel Espinosa-Rodriguez, Yassel Ramos-Gomez, Ivan Andujar-Martinez, Luis Javier Gonzalez-Lopez, Mariela Perez de la Iglesia, Jesus Zamora-Sanchez, Otto Cruz-Sui, Gilda Lemos-Perez, Gleysin Cabrera-Herrera, Jorge Valdes-Hernandez, Eduardo Martinez-Diaz, Eulogio Pimentel-Vazquez, Marta Ayala-Avila, Gerardo Guillen-Nieto
Summary: This study reports the development of a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine based on the yeast Pichia pastoris. The vaccine, using the receptor-binding domain (RBD) modified with amino acid extensions, demonstrated high levels of binding antibodies and neutralization of viral infection. The results suggest that this vaccine candidate could be a suitable option for COVID-19.
Article
Microbiology
Huifang Xu, Tiantian Wang, Peng Sun, Xuchen Hou, Xin Gong, Bin Zhang, Jun Wu, Bo Liu
Summary: The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants has weakened the protection of existing vaccines and antibodies, highlighting the need for a broad-spectrum vaccination strategy. This study successfully expressed the receptor binding domain of the SARS-CoV-2 Beta variant using a glycoengineered yeast platform. A bivalent vaccine of RBD-Beta and RBD-wild type, combined with adjuvants, induced robust antibody responses and showed potential as a broad-spectrum vaccination strategy.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Fatima Amanat, Shirin Strohmeier, Wen-Hsin Lee, Sandhya Bangaru, Andrew B. Ward, Lynda Coughlan, Florian Krammer
Summary: In this study, mouse monoclonal antibodies were generated against different epitopes on the RBD of SARS-CoV-2, demonstrating that neutralizing antibodies can lower viral titers in the lungs while non-neutralizing antibodies cannot. Most of the MAbs also cross-neutralize the B.1.351 and B.1.1.7 variants in vitro.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Bo Yang, Yuanyuan Jia, Yumin Meng, Ying Xue, Kefang Liu, Yan Li, Shichao Liu, Xiaoxiong Li, Kaige Cui, Lina Shang, Tianyou Cheng, Zhichao Zhang, Yingxiang Hou, Xiaozhu Yang, Hong Yan, Liqiang Duan, Zhou Tong, Changxin Wu, Zhida Liu, Shan Gao, Shu Zhuo, Weijin Huang, George Fu Gao, Jianxun Qi, Guijun Shang
Summary: This study reveals the critical role of SNX27 in regulating ACE2 receptor homeostasis by preventing the entry of ACE2/virus complex into lysosome/late endosome through its interaction with the retromer complex. This mechanism serves as a countermeasure against invasion by ACE2 receptor-utilizing SARS coronaviruses.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yu-Lei Chen, Jin-Jin Lin, Huan Ma, Ning Zhong, Xin-Xin Xie, Yunru Yang, Peiyi Zheng, Ling-Jing Zhang, Tengchuan Jin, Min-Jie Cao
Summary: This study reported four high-affinity VNAR binders isolated from Chiloscyllium plagiosum, three of which demonstrated the ability to block the binding of ACE2 to the SARS-CoV-2 RBD.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Virology
Elena Quinonez, Majid Vahed, Abdolrazagh Hashemi Shahraki, Mehdi Mirsaeidi
Summary: The study revealed that the B.1.1.7 variant in North America has high affinity to neutralizing antibodies, but its proportion will decrease once herd immunity is reached. On the other hand, the proportions of the B.1.351, B.1.617, and P.1 variants are slowly increasing, but herd immunity can relatively control these variants.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lin Yang, Jiacheng Li, Shuai Guo, Chengyu Hou, Chenchen Liao, Liping Shi, Xiaoliang Ma, Shenda Jiang, Bing Zheng, Yi Fang, Lin Ye, Xiaodong He
Summary: Research has found that most harmful mutations resulting in increased transmissibility have already been covered by existing mutations, and a possible enhancement in binding affinity at amino-acid position 498 of the RBD. A new calculation method based on entropy-enthalpy compensation rule suggests that all known structures comply with this rule, providing the driving force behind spontaneous protein-protein docking.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Baubek Spanov, Bas Baartmans, Oladapo Olaleye, Simone Nicolardi, Natalia Govorukhina, Manfred Wuhrer, Nico C. van de Merbel, Rainer Bischoff
Summary: We have developed a method using pH gradient cation-exchange chromatography to reveal the charge heterogeneity of stressed trastuzumab at the subunit level. This approach can be used for charge variant analysis of therapeutic antibodies with two or more modification sites in the Fab region.
ANALYTICAL AND BIOANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Steffen Lippold, Michaela Hook, Christian Spick, Alexander Knaupp, Kevin Whang, Fabian Ruperti, Lance Cadang, Nisana Andersen, Annette Vogt, Michael Grote, Dietmar Reusch, Markus Haberger, Feng Yang, Tilman Schlothauer
Summary: T-cell engaging bispecific antibodies (TCBs) targeting CD3 and tumor-specific antigens show great promise as therapeutics. In this study, we developed a novel method using functional CD3 target affinity chromatography (AC) coupled with online mass spectrometry (MS) to separate and identify critical modified proteoforms of TCBs. This method enables the functional distinction of important modifications and the evaluation of product-related variants, streamlining the integration of functional and structural characterizations of therapeutic CD3 targeting TCBs.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jing Zhang, Gerard van Der Zon, Jin Ma, Hailiang Mei, Birol Cabukusta, Cedrick C. Agaser, Katarina Madunic, Manfred Wuhrer, Tao Zhang, Peter ten Dijke
Summary: Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is important in cancer cell metastasis. The abundance of glycosphingolipids (GSLs), specifically ganglioside subtypes, decreases during TGF-beta-induced EMT. Inhibition of UDP-glucose ceramide glucosyltransferase (UGCG), the enzyme responsible for GSL biosynthesis, promotes TGF-beta signaling and EMT. ST3GAL5-synthesized a-series gangliosides inhibit TGF-beta signaling and EMT in lung cancer cells.
Article
Immunology
Mikhail Volkov, Maximilian Brinkhaus, Karin A. van Schie, Albert Bondt, Theresa Kissel, Elvera J. van der Kooi, Arthur E. H. Bentlage, Carolien A. M. Koeleman, Steven W. de Taeye, Ninotska I. Derksen, Radboud J. E. M. Dolhain, Ute Braig-Scherer, Tom W. J. Huizinga, Manfred Wuhrer, Rene E. M. Toes, Gestur Vidarsson, Diane van der Woude
Summary: Glycosylation in the Fc and Fab regions of antibodies can affect their function and binding. Fab glycans negatively impact the interaction between IgG and hFcRn and reduce the transport of IgG across the placenta. Fab-glycosylated antibodies are frequently associated with autoimmune and malignant disorders and may have potential harmful effects.
JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Julie Van Coillie, Tamas Pongracz, Johann Rahmoeller, Hung-Jen Chen, Chiara Elisabeth Geyer, Lonneke A. van Vught, Jana Sophia Buhre, Tonci Sustic, Thijs Luc Junior van Osch, Maurice Steenhuis, Willianne Hoepel, Wenjun Wang, Anne Sophie Lixenfeld, Jan Nouta, Sofie Keijzer, Federica Linty, Remco Visser, Mads Delbo Larsen, Emily Lara Martin, Inga Kuensting, Selina Lehrian, Vera von Kopylow, Carsten Kern, Hanna Bele Lunding, Menno de Winther, Niels van Mourik, Theo Rispens, Tobias Graf, Marleen Adriana Slim, Rene Peter Minnaar, Marije Kristianne Bomers, Jonne Jochum Sikkens, Alexander P. J. Vlaar, C. Ellen van der Schoot, Jeroen den Dunnen, Manfred Wuhrer, Marc Ehlers, Gestur Vidarsson
Summary: The BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine induces transient afucosylated anti-S IgG1 responses in naive individuals, but not in antigen-experienced ones. Further studies are needed to determine the clinical context in which potent afucosylated responses would be preferred.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Di Wang, Valeriia Kuzyk, Katarina Madunic, Tao Zhang, Oleg A. Mayboroda, Manfred Wuhrer, Guinevere S. M. Lageveen-Kammeijer
Summary: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common and deadly type of cancer. Studying the N-glycosylation of CRC cell lines can help identify potential therapeutic and diagnostic targets. The study found a diverse range of N-glycans among the examined CRC cell lines and discovered similarities between different platforms used for analysis.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Rui-Rui Guo, Guinevere S. M. Lageveen-Kammeijer, Wenjun Wang, Hans Dalebout, Wangang Zhang, Manfred Wuhrer, Li Liu, Bram Heijs, Josef Voglmeir
Summary: Severe allergic reactions to certain types of meat have been observed in areas with ticks, due to an immune response to a carbohydrate antigen called alpha-Gal. The presence and distribution of alpha-Gal-modified N-glycans in different meats were studied, and it was found that these modified glycans were abundant in beef, mutton, and pork, mainly present in fibroconnective tissue. This study contributes to a better understanding of the glycosylation biology of meat and provides guidance for processed meat products.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Alan B. Moran, Elena Dominguez-Vega, Manfred Wuhrer, Guinevere S. M. Lageveen-Kammeijer
Summary: Intact protein analysis by mass spectrometry is important for assessing post-translational modifications and biotransformation. The lack of consensus on the best practice for data processing and unfit data processing tools make analysis of intact proteins laborious. This study investigated a software-assisted workflow for streamlined intact protein data processing and quantification. The results showed comparable quantification to manually performed quantification, demonstrating the efficiency of the presented workflow.
JOURNAL OF PROTEOME RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Paulina Kaplonek, Deniz Cizmeci, Gaurav Kwatra, Alane Izu, Jessica Shih-Lu Lee, Harry L. Bertera, Stephanie Fischinger, Colin Mann, Fatima Amanat, Wenjun Wang, Anthonet L. Koen, Lee Fairlie, Clare L. Cutland, Khatija Ahmed, Keertan Dheda, Shaun L. Barnabas, Qasim Ebrahim Bhorat, Carmen Briner, Florian Krammer, Erica Ollman Saphire, Sarah C. Gilbert, Teresa Lambe, Andrew J. Pollard, Marta Nunes, Manfred Wuhrer, Douglas A. Lauffenburger, Shabir A. Madhi, Galit Alter
Summary: Despite the success of COVID-19 vaccines, breakthrough infections can occur due to SARS-CoV-2 variants. The immune mediators of protection in humans are still unknown. A study on ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (AZD1222) vaccine recipients in South Africa found different Fc-receptor-binding antibodies among different groups. Individuals who resisted COVID-19 exclusively had Fc gamma R3B-binding antibodies, while those who experienced breakthrough had enhanced IgA and IgG3 with enriched Fc gamma R2B binding. Antibodies unable to bind to Fc gamma R3B led to immune complex clearance and inflammation. The differential antibody binding to Fc gamma R3B was associated with Fc-glycosylation differences in SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Constantin Blochl, Di Wang, Oleg A. Mayboroda, Guinevere S. M. Lageveen-Kammeijer, Manfred Wuhrer
Summary: In this study, a meta-omics approach was used to investigate the glycomic landscape of AML. Specific glycosyltransferases and transcription factors associated with glycan phenotypes were identified. The study also found distinct glycomic features in subtypes M5 and M6 of AML, as well as similar gene expression patterns and regulatory networks in primary AML cells.
CELL AND BIOSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Guusje van Schaick, Manfred Wuhrer, Elena Dominguez-Vega
Summary: Proteins undergo various post-translational modifications (PTMs) which can affect their stability and activity. Native separation techniques coupled with mass spectrometry (MS) have proven to be a powerful tool for investigating the structure-function relationship of PTMs. In this study, the researchers explored the use of dopant-enriched nitrogen gas to improve the nano-electrospray ionization (nano-ESI)-MS of native proteins, particularly glycoproteins. They found that the use of DEN gas resulted in lower charge states and less adduct formation, leading to improved ionization efficiency and spectral quality for highly glycosylated proteins.
ANALYTICA CHIMICA ACTA
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Florent Clerc, Karli R. Reiding, Noortje de Haan, Carolien A. M. Koeleman, Agnes L. Hipgrave Ederveen, Natalia Manetti, Viktoria Dotz, Vito Annese, Manfred Wuhrer
Summary: This study investigates the associations of immunoglobulin A1 and A2 glycosylation with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Differences in IgA O- and N-glycosylation between patient groups were found to be associated with the diseases, and a statistical model was constructed to predict the disease group of the patients. These findings contribute to the development of noninvasive biomarkers for IBD and improvement in patient care.
JOURNAL OF PROTEOME RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Archana Shubhakar, Bas C. Jansen, Alex T. Adams, Karli R. Reiding, Nicholas T. Ventham, Rahul Kalla, Daniel Bergemalm, Paulina A. Urbanowicz, Richard A. Gardner, Manfred IBD BIOM Consortium, Manfred Wuhrer, Jonas Halfvarson, Jack Satsangi, Daryl L. Fernandes, Daniel I. R. Spencer
Summary: This study investigated a composite serum N-glycomic biomarker to predict future disease course in newly diagnosed IBD patients. The biomarker showed a predictive capacity for treatment escalation in both the discovery and replication cohorts of patients.
JOURNAL OF CROHNS & COLITIS
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Jana Sophia Buhre, Tamas Pongracz, Inga Kuensting, Anne S. S. Lixenfeld, Wenjun Wang, Jan Nouta, Selina Lehrian, Franziska Schmelter, Hanna B. B. Lunding, Lara Duehring, Carsten Kern, Janina Petry, Emily L. L. Martin, Bandik Foeh, Moritz Steinhaus, Vera von Kopylow, Christian Sina, Tobias Graf, Johann Rahmoeller, Manfred Wuhrer, Marc Ehlers
Summary: This study investigated the long-term antibody response to new mRNA-containing lipid nanoparticle vaccines and adenovirus-based vaccines. The study found that the antibody levels induced by mRNA vaccines decreased over time, while the levels induced by adenovirus-based vaccines remained stable. mRNA vaccines also induced a long-term IgG4 antibody response, which may affect long-term efficacy. These findings have potential implications for the long-term effectiveness of these novel vaccines.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Multidisciplinary
Wei Wang, Tao Zhang, Jan Nouta, Peter A. van Veelen, Noortje de Haan, Theo M. de Reijke, Manfred Wuhrer, Guinevere S. M. Lageveen-Kammeijer
Summary: This research confirms for the first time the presence of Kdn on the glycans of human prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and suggests its potential relevance to prostate cancer. Further research is needed to investigate the occurrence, biosynthesis, biological role, and biomarker potential of Kdn in humans.