Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Chao Liu, Hongrong Xu, Fei Yuan, Weili Chen, Hanjing Chen, Lei Sheng, Yujia Wu, Xuening Li
Summary: Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), a negative regulator of LDLR, is an important target for the treatment of hypercholesterolemic cardiovascular disease. Monoclonal antibodies alirocumab and evolocumab targeted against PCSK9 have been widely used in clinical practice. Vaccine research for PCSK9 has been slow, but this study identified two peptides with superior binding activity to screening antibodies and obtained recombinant sequences that respond to the dominant conformational epitope of PCSK9, providing a meaningful reference for epitope selection in PCSK9 vaccine development.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Matthew G. Cyr, Henry D. Wilson, Anna-Lena Spierling, Jing Chang, Haiyong Peng, Peter Steinberger, Christoph Rader
Summary: This article introduces an unbiased approach to antibody discovery, which relies on generating monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against native target cell surfaces via phage display. The authors demonstrated that this method efficiently identifies mAbs with the desired target cell reactivity and identified and validated three cell surface antigens in multiple myeloma. This study highlights the utility of optimized whole-cell phage display selection methods and their potential in target-unbiased antibody discovery workflows.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Parisa Keshavarz-Joud, Liangjun Zhao, Daija Bobe, Carolina Hernandez, Mykhailo Kopylov, Laura Y. Yen, Naima Djeddar, Brianna Thompson, Caleb Connors, Greg Gibson, Anton Bryksin, M. G. Finn
Summary: Researchers have successfully tested the assembly tolerance of PP7 dimer capsid proteins to insertions or terminal extensions of randomized 15-mer peptide sequences. Deep sequencing analysis revealed a preference for hydrophilic peptides and negatively charged amino acids, while positively charged peptides and bulky and hydrophobic amino acid residues had lower inclusion levels.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Susan K. Vester, Rolle Rahikainen, Irsyad N. A. Khairil Anuar, Rory A. Hills, Tiong Kit Tan, Mark Howarth
Summary: The authors developed a switchable protein purification method called SpySwitch, which enables gentle purification of proteins tagged with SpyTag. SpySwitch contains histidines that allow pH-dependent release of captured proteins, resulting in higher purity compared to traditional His-tag methods. Additionally, SpySwitch is thermosensitive, allowing protein capture and release at specific temperatures, making it suitable for direct assembly onto multimeric scaffolds. The study also demonstrated the application of SpySwitch in the purification of receptor-binding domains from coronaviruses and the recognition of these domains by antibodies.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Michael P. Doyle, Joseph R. Genualdi, Adam L. Bailey, Nurgun Kose, Christopher Gainza, Jessica Rodriguez, Kristen M. Reeder, Christopher A. Nelson, Prashant N. Jethva, Rachel E. Sutton, Robin G. Bombardi, Michael L. Gross, Justin G. Julander, Daved H. Fremont, Michael S. Diamond, James E. Crowe
Summary: Yellow fever virus (YFV) is a mosquito-borne virus that occasionally causes outbreaks of severe infection in South America and sub-Saharan Africa. Effective vaccines have been developed, but recent production and distribution issues have left many people vulnerable. This study aimed to isolate an antibody from individuals who had received the YFV vaccine for future use as a biologic drug. The most powerful antiviral antibody was found to be effective in animal models of human infection. These studies provide insights into the human immune response to YFV and offer a potential therapeutic antibody candidate for inhibiting highly virulent strains of the virus.
Article
Virology
Giuditta De Lorenzo, Rapeepat Tandavanitj, Jennifer Doig, Chayanee Setthapramote, Monica Poggianella, Ricardo Sanchez-Velazquez, Hannah E. Scales, Julia M. Edgar, Alain Kohl, James Brewer, Oscar R. Burrone, Arvind H. Patel
Summary: The study developed ZIKV subunit and virus-like particle (VLP)-based vaccines, which induced antibodies with a higher capacity to neutralize virus infection and protected animals from lethal challenge with both the African and Asian lineages of ZIKV. The engineered immunogens reduced the potential to induce antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) of infection and showed promising efficacy in comparison with the wild-type derivatives.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Yongbing Pan, Jianhui Du, Jia Liu, Hai Wu, Fang Gui, Nan Zhang, Xiaojie Deng, Gang Song, Yufeng Li, Jia Lu, Xiaoli Wu, ShanShan Zhan, Zhaofei Jing, Jiong Wang, Yimin Yang, Jianbang Liu, Ying Chen, Qin Chen, Huanyu Zhang, Hengrui Hu, Kai Duan, Manli Wang, Qisheng Wang, Xiaoming Yang
Summary: This study isolated ten neutralizing antibodies from the immune cells of COVID-19 convalescent patients, with 2B11 showing the highest affinity and neutralization potency against the original SARS-CoV-2 virus. Another antibody, 1E10, exhibited different neutralization efficiency against SARS-CoV-2 and its variants, targeting a distinct epitope on the receptor-binding domain.
Article
Microbiology
Carola Schafer, Nicholas Dambrauskas, Laura M. Reynolds, Olesya Trakhimets, Andrew Raappana, Erika L. Flannery, Wanlapa Roobsoong, Jetsumon Sattabongkot, Sebastian A. Mikolajczak, Stefan H. Kappe, D. Noah Sather
Summary: This study developed a liver-humanized mouse model to experimentally assess the impact of a partially protective pre-erythrocytic vaccine on reducing Plasmodium vivax relapses. Results showed that although the antibody treatment did not completely prevent primary infection, it significantly reduced the number of relapses, indicating the potential for a partially efficacious vaccine in positive public health outcomes.
CELL HOST & MICROBE
(2021)
Review
Microbiology
Dvir Gatt, Isaac Martin, Rawan AlFouzan, Theo J. J. Moraes
Summary: RSV is a common cause of severe lower respiratory tract disease, particularly in young children, but there is currently no approved vaccine for prevention. In the past two decades, significant advancements have been made in understanding RSV's pathogenesis and immunopathology, leading to the development of potential vaccines and successful implementation of passive immunization. This review provides an update on current treatment options for acute RSV disease and different therapeutic approaches for RSV prevention.
Article
Immunology
Khadijeh Ghasemian, Inge Broer, Jennifer Schoen, Richard Killisch, Nadine Kolp, Armin Springer, Jana Huckauf
Summary: In this study, a short peptide from ZP3 protein was produced in Nicotiana benthamiana plants and shown to induce the production of antibodies in BALB/c mice. The antibodies generated were capable of binding to the native zona pellucida of wild mice. The results suggest that plants producing HBcAg-mZP3 VLPs could serve as immunogenic edible baits to reduce the fertility of wild mice through inducing cross-reactive antibodies to the zona pellucida.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Heng-Wei Lee, Cheng-Yao Yang, Ming-Chang Lee, Shih-Ping Chen, Hui-Wen Chang, Ivan-Chen Cheng
Summary: The study evaluated the performance of different monoclonal antibodies as tracers and established two blocking ELISA systems based on VLPs and P1. The results showed that VLPs paired with S11B and P1 paired with Q10E demonstrated the highest correlation with SN titers.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Fabrice Gritti
Summary: This study models the transient diffusion of large biomolecules in ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography using a single fully porous particle. The research reveals that different sized analytes have varying dynamic capacities and equilibrium issues in the chromatography column.
JOURNAL OF CHROMATOGRAPHY A
(2022)
Review
Immunology
Susanna Esposito, Bahaa Abu-Raya, Paolo Bonanni, Fabianne Cahn-Sellem, Katie L. Flanagan, Federico Martinon Torres, Asuncion Mejias, Simon Nadel, Marco A. P. Safadi, Arne Simon
Summary: Routine childhood vaccinations are vital for protecting children from serious diseases, and active vaccinations in infants are highly effective. However, some important viral pathogens, such as RSV, do not yet have approved vaccines. The introduction of anti-viral monoclonal antibodies, like nirsevimab, into pediatric vaccine schedules could potentially offer additional protection for infants against RSV.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Natsuki Kurokawa, Pierre-Olivier Lavoie, Marc-Andre D'aoust, Manon M-J Couture, Michele Dargis, Sonia Trepanier, Shigeki Hoshino, Tomohiro Koike, Masaaki Arai, Naohisa Tsutsui
Summary: The study produced a monovalent Ro-VLP vaccine using a plant expression system and evaluated its immunogenicity and toxicological profile in animal models. The purified G1 Ro-VLP showed high purity and induced robust immune responses in rats and rabbits without significant toxicity, suggesting it as a potential alternative to current oral rotavirus vaccines.
Article
Immunology
Janna R. Shapiro, Guadalupe Andreani, Charlotte Dube, Melanie Berube, Diane Bussiere, Manon M-J Couture, Michele Dargis, Hilary E. Hendin, Nathalie Landry, Pierre-Olivier Lavoie, Stephanie Pillet, Brian J. Ward, Marc-Andre D'Aoust, Sonia Trepanier
Summary: The study demonstrated that plant-derived norovirus-like particle (NoVLP) vaccine was safe and immunogenic in mice and rabbits. The use of multi-modal vaccination, combining oral and intramuscular administration, could potentially enhance systemic and mucosal immune responses for future clinical development.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alessandro Grinzato, Eaazhisai Kandiah, Chiara Lico, Camilla Betti, Selene Baschieri, Giuseppe Zanotti
NATURE CHEMICAL BIOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Emile Rage, Carla Marusic, Chiara Lico, Anna Maria Salzano, Andrea Scaloni, Selene Baschieri, Marcello Donini
PLANT CELL TISSUE AND ORGAN CULTURE
(2020)
Article
Immunology
Nicia Diaz, Chiara Lico, Cristina Capodicasa, Selene Baschieri, Daniele Dessi, Eugenio Benvenuto, Pier Luigi Fiori, Paola Rappelli
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Plant Sciences
Chiara Lico, Luca Santi, Selene Baschieri, Emanuela Noris, Carla Marusic, Marcello Donini, Emanuela Pedrazzini, Giovanni Maga, Rosella Franconi, Paola Di Bonito, Linda Avesani
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2020)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Carla Marusic, Charifa Drissi Touzani, Alessio Bortolami, Marcello Donini, Claudia Zanardello, Chiara Lico, Emile Rage, Siham Fellahi, Mohammed El Houadfi, Calogero Terregino, Selene Baschieri
Summary: This study demonstrated that the engineered VP2 protein (His-pVP2) can self-assemble into virus-like particles in plants, inducing the production of anti-IBDV specific antibodies upon immunization and providing protection when challenged with a high virulent IBDV strain.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Chiara Lico, Barbara Tanno, Luca Marchetti, Flavia Novelli, Paola Giardullo, Caterina Arcangeli, Simonetta Pazzaglia, Maurizio S. Podda, Luca Santi, Roberta Bernini, Selene Baschieri, Mariateresa Mancuso
Summary: New drug delivery strategies are urgently needed for the treatment of medulloblastoma. Plant virus nanoparticles have been proposed as an innovative solution, with tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV) successfully engineered for targeted drug delivery in a murine model of Shh-MB. These modified particles showed promising results in reducing toxicity and improving targeted delivery to tumor cells.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Alessio Bortolami, Marcello Donini, Carla Marusic, Chiara Lico, Charifa Drissi Touzani, Federica Gobbo, Elisa Mazzacan, Andrea Fortin, Valentina Maria Panzarin, Francesco Bonfante, Selene Baschieri, Calogero Terregino
Summary: Infectious bursal disease virus causes Gumboro disease in young chickens, and current vaccine strategies have limitations, necessitating the development of novel vaccination approaches for differentiating infected from vaccinated animals (DIVA). The engineered His-VP3 ELISA, produced in plants, showed high sensitivity and specificity in detecting anti-VP3 antibodies. This novel assay has potential applications as a DIVA test in chickens inoculated with VP2-based vaccines.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Fedor A. Lipskerov, Ekaterina V. Sheshukova, Tatiana V. Komarova
Summary: Formaldehyde (FA) is a simple and highly reactive compound that exists in the environment and living organisms, capable of causing protein crosslinking and DNA damage. Novel instruments and approaches are needed to monitor and measure FA content in various environmental and biological samples. Genetically encoded FA-sensors and chemically-synthesized probes have been developed for in vivo and in cellulo FA monitoring.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Ekaterina Sheshukova, Natalia M. Ershova, Fedor A. Lipskerov, Tatiana Komarova
Summary: Plants can be used as a promising platform for producing recombinant proteins. This study proposes a novel method to enhance the synthesis of recombinant proteins using viral vectors. The approach suggests that introducing foreign nuclear proteins, including bacterial effectors, can interfere with the import of cellular nuclear proteins and trigger antibacterial defense reactions, thereby creating favorable conditions for cytoplasmic virus reproduction. In this study, an artificial nuclear protein mRFP:NLS was synthesized in plant cells, mimicking a bacterial effector. The synthesis of mRFP:NLS resulted in the accumulation of Nb gamma Thio mRNA and stimulated the reproduction of a viral vector based on the genome of crucifer-infecting tobacco mosaic virus (crTMV) in plant leaves. The study also identified a gene promoter, Pr-gamma Thio, which showed increased activity in response to the increased synthesis of GFP fused with NLS.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Luca Marchetti, Lorena Simon-Gracia, Chiara Lico, Mariateresa Mancuso, Selene Baschieri, Luca Santi, Tambet Teesalu
Summary: In this study, a peptide-guided Tomato Bushy Stunt Virus (TBSV)-based nanocarrier platform was developed for affinity targeting. The TBSV-RPAR nanoparticles specifically bound and internalized in cells positive for the peptide receptor neuropilin-1 (NRP-1). Additionally, the RPAR functionalization allowed the TBSV particles to accumulate in the lung tissue following systemic administration in mice. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of the CendR-targeted TBSV platform for precision delivery of payloads.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Paola Sangiorgio, Simona Errico, Alessandra Verardi, Silvia Massa, Riccardo Pagliarello, Carla Marusic, Chiara Lico, Ombretta Presenti, Marcello Donini, Selene Baschieri
Summary: This study analyzes consumer awareness and acceptance of advanced biotechnologies for developing gluten-free products. The results show that 64% of respondents support food biotechnology as long as it benefits health or the environment. The perception of biotechnology varies according to education level and type. The study also reveals a change in public opinion about the usefulness and moral acceptability of food biotechnology compared to 20 years ago.
Meeting Abstract
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
E. Sheshukova, T. Komarova, N. Ershova, K. Kamarova, Y. Dorokhov
Meeting Abstract
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
N. Ershova, E. Sheshukova, T. Komarova, K. Kamarova, Y. Dorokhov
Meeting Abstract
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
K. Kamarova, E. Sheshukova, T. Komarova, N. Ershova, Y. Dorokhov