Immune response to Vi-antigen of Salmonella typhi is dependent on introduction of positive charge and shape of charged group into polysaccharide.

A model of a controlled conversion of polysaccharide Vi-antigen of S. typhi into zwitterionic antigen is proposed. The immunological properties of modifications of this antigen conjugated to a protein support were studied.

[Aptamers in the Treatment of Bacterial Infections: Problems and Prospects].

Aptamers are short single-stranded oligonucleotides which are selected via targeted chemical evolution in vitro to bind a molecular target of interest. The aptamer selection technology is designated as SELEX (Systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment). SELEX enables isolation of oligonucleotide aptamers binding a wide range of targets of interest with little respect for their nature and molecular weight. A number of applications of aptamer selection were developed ranging from biosensor technologies to antitumor drug discovery. First aptamer-based pharmaceutical (Macugen) was approved by FDA for clinical use in 2004, and since then more than ten aptamer-based drugs undergo various phases of clinical trials. From the medicinal chemist's point of view, aptamers represent a new class of molecules suitable for the development of new therapeutics. Due to the stability, relative synthesis simplicity, and development of advanced strategies of target specific molecular selection, aptamers attract increased attention of drug discovery community. Difficulties of the development of next-generation antibiotics basing on the conventional basis of combinatorial chemistry and high-throughput screening have also amplified the interest to aptamer-based therapeutic candidates. The present article reviews the investigations focused on the development of antibacterial aptamers and discusses the potential and current limitations of the use of this type of therapeutic molecules.

[Development of Specific Therapy to Category A Toxic Infections].

Category A select agents continue to be major threat to human population both as naturally occurring diseases and as potential weapon of bioterrorists. Anthrax and botulism are probably the most threatening agents as both have virtually uncontrolled natural reservoirs from which they can be isolated and propagated. Available specific antitoxin therapy of both diseases is outdated; its efficiency is questionable as well as safety of reactogenic or human-derived components used in treatment. Highly sensitive toxin detection techniques are still not as widespread as it needed for timely alerting medical services. There is urgent need of pre-exposure prophylaxis and postexposure specific antitoxin therapy for anthrax and botulism. Analysis of modern studies in the field suggests oligoclonal antibodies acting against receptor-binding toxin subunits and nucleic acid aptamers as allosteric inhibitors of metlloproteolytic toxin components as the most promising candidates for development of efficient antitoxin therapy.

[CONTEMPORARY CONCEPTION OF IMMUNE RESPONSE ACTIVATION MECHA- NISM BY CONJUGATED POLYSACCHARIDE VACCINES].

Vaccination remains the most effective method of control of spread of a whole range of infections of both viral and bacterial nature. Many bacterial pathogens (Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis and Haemophilus influenzae) carry polysaccharide capsule on the surface, that is one of the elements of protection from host organism immune system. At the same time, vaccination with bacteria exopolysaccharides (EPS) ensures infection neutralization. Effectiveness of such vaccine prophylaxis is limited by age of the vaccinated, intensity and duration of the immunity, development of secondary immune response. EPS conjugation with protein antigens was known for a long time to ensure activation of T-cell immunity against EPS and formation of secondary immune response. However, detailed studies of mechanism of immunity modulation by a protein partner as part of a glycoconjugate has not been carried out. T-lymphocyte activation was traditionally thought to occur exclusively due to peptide presentation, that are products of processing of protein component of the conjugate. Recently, information, accumulated in the field of natural carbohydrate, glycolipid and glycoprotein antigen presentation to T-cells, has generated interest in studying mechanisms of cell immunity activation by conjugated vaccines. Progress in this field, as well as development of novel chemical and biochemical, including combinative technologies of synthesis and study of these molecules, opens new opportunities for detailed understanding of mechanism of action for conjugated vaccines and creation of glycoconjugates with increased effectiveness of protective action.

[Antibiotic-dependent selection of the E. coli clones with increased chaperone activity for highly-efficient production of the full-length soluble New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase].

The spread of the New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase (NDM-1), a plasmid-borne enzyme conferring bacterial resistance to any known beta-lactam antibiotics, represents the global health threat. There is an urgent need to develop the efficient NDM-1 inhibitors of various mode of action thereby necessitating structural studies of the enzyme as well as analysis of the secretion pathway and localization of the protein. The recombinant full-length NDM-1 is produced in E. coli in the inactive form and is mostly accumulated in the inclusion bodies. The secreted recombinant NDM-1 forms are several N-terminally truncated species. The robust expression system capable of high-level production of the full-length NDM-1 and derivatives thereof is required to obtain NDM-1 in the quantities necessary for drug discovery, diagnostics, and research purposes. Therefore, we developed a new system that utilizes antibiotic pressure to select E. coli producing increased quantity of soluble NDM-1 and showed that an increase in the NDM-1 solubility occurs in the bacterial clones producing increased amounts in the chaperones.

Role of Structure-Based Changes due to Somatic Mutation in Highly Homologous DNA-Binding and DNA-Hydrolyzing Autoantibodies Exemplified by A23P Substitution in the VH Domain.

Anti-DNA autoantibodies are responsible for tissue injury in lupus. A subset of DNA-specific antibodies capable of DNA cleavage can be even more harmful after entering the living cells by destroying nuclear DNA. Origins of anti-DNA autoantibodies are not fully understood, and the mechanism of induction of DNA-cleaving activity remains speculative. The autoantibody BV04-01 derived from lupus-prone mouse is the only DNA-hydrolyzing immunoglobulin with known 3D structure. Identification and analysis of antibodies homologous to BV04-01 may help to understand molecular bases and origins of DNA-cleaving activity of autoantibodies. BLAST search identified murine anti-DNA autoantibody MRL-4 with sequences of variable region genes highly homologous to those of autoantibody BV04-01. Despite significant homology to BV04-01, not only MRL-4 had no DNA-cleaving activity, but also reversion of its unusual P23 mutation to the germline alanine resulted in a dramatic loss of affinity to DNA. Contrary to this effect, transfer of the P23 mutation to the BV04-01 has resulted in a significant drop in DNA binding and almost complete loss of catalytic activity. In the present paper we analyzed the properties of two homologous autoantibodies and mutants thereof and discussed the implications of unusual somatic mutations for the development of autoantibodies with DNA-binding and DNA-hydrolyzing activity.

[Prospects for application of aptamers in diagnostics of bacterial infections].

Nucleic acid-based aptamers are widely accepted as promising tools for development of a plethora of diagnostic and therapeutic preparations, as well as means ofenvironmental monitoring. Aptamers can be regarded as fully synthetic analogs of antibodies. At the same time, certain properties ofaptamers render them superior to antibodies in terms of development of new diagnostic and monitoring systems that combine high sensitivity and specificity with high reproducibility and inexpensive manufacturing. In particular, the aptamers tailored to bind biomolecules and live cells can be employed in solving the problem of combining short analysis time with high sensitivity and specificity in detection of pathogenic bacteria. The present review summarizes the current state of the techniques developed for aptamer-based detection of bacteria and their components and discusses the potential of their practical application.

DNA-hydrolyzing Ab: is catalytic activity a clue for physiological significance?

Ab with DNA-hydrolyzing properties were described in autoimmune pathologies, such as SLE and RA, and in other autoimmune diseases, including chronic lymphocytic leukemia, AIDS, and others. The disease-associated DNA-binding AAb penetrate cell membrane and enter the nucleus. Intracellular entry of anti-DNA was linked to cellular damage and apo. Here we discuss the possible pathological process induced by DNA-cleaving Ab in the nucleus, where these Ab may induce apo. Apo processes, e.g., induced by DNA-hydrolyzing Ab, may underlie a number of syndromes observed in autoimmunity thus providing the grounds for the pathological role of DNA-hydrolyzing Ab in these diseases.

[Production of DNA-hydrolyzing antibody BV04-01 Fab fragment in methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris]. / Produktsiia Fab-fragmenta DNK-gidrolizuiushchego antitela BV04-01 v metilotrofnykh drozhzhakh Pichia pastoris.

Efficient system for producing the recombinant Fab of DNA-hydrolyzing antibody BV04-01 in metylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris was developed. Addition of peptides encompassing the Jun-Fos leucine zipper at the C-termini of the antibody chains facilitated the in vivo assembling of the Fab. The yield of secreted functionally active BV04-01 Fab was about 3 mg/L. Catalytic efficiency of supercoiled DNA hydrolysis by the Fab obtained was 1.8 x 10(6) M(-1) min(-1).

[A structure-activity study of a catalytic antiidiotypic antibody to the human erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase]. / Strukturno-funktsional'noe issledovanie kataliticheskogo antiidiotipicheskogo antitela k atsetilkholinésteraze éritrotsitov cheloveka.

The catalytic monoclonal antibody 9A8 (MA 9A8), antiidiotypic to the antibody AE-2 (MA AE2) produced to the active site of acetyl cholinesterase from human erythrocytes, was subjected to a structure-function study. The specific binding of MA 9A8 to MA AE2 (K 2.26 x 10(9) M-1) was shown by the method of surface plasmon resonance, and the functional activity of MA 9A8 was demonstrated. Unlike acetyl cholinesterase, this antibody specifically reacted with the irreversible phosphonate inhibitors of esterases. A peptide map of MA 9A8 was analyzed by MALDI mass spectrometry. The Ser99 residue of its heavy chain was shown to be within the active site of the catalytic antibody. A computer modeling of the MA 9A8 active site suggested the existence of a catalytic dyad formed by Ser99 and His35. A comparison of the tertiary structures of the MA 9A8 and the 17E8 monoclonal antibody, which also exhibited an esterase activity and was produced to the stable analogue of the reaction transition state, indicated a practically complete coincidence of the structures of their presumed active sites.

Anti-DNA autoantibodies reveal toxicity to tumor cell lines.

Cytotoxicity of anti-DNA autoantibodies from sera of SLE and CLL patients was assayed on permanent cell lines L929, HL-60, Raji, and K562. L929 cells appeared to be the most sensitive to antibody treatment. DNA-hydrolyzing properties of the same autoantibody preparations were analyzed in parallel. The data obtained outlined the correlation between cytotoxicity and DNA-hydrolyzing properties of these autoantibodies. It was shown that treatment of the cells with cytotoxic anti-DNA autoantibodies induced internucleosomal DNA fragmentation and Annexin V binding to the cell surface characteristic of apoptotic pathway of cell death. A time-dependent profile of antibody-mediated toxicity to L929 cells suggested recruitment of at least two distinct mechanisms of cell death. The first peak of cell death observed in 3 h of incubation was completely inhibited by preincubation of cells with caspase inhibitor YVAD-CHO, while the second increase in cell mortality (18-30 h) persisted. Possible mechanisms for anti-DNA autoantibody cytotoxicity are discussed.

[Structural-functional study of recombinant forms of onconase]. / Strukturno-funktsional'noe issledovanie rekombinantnykh form onkonazy.

A method for expression of an onconase gene leading to a soluble form of the protein was developed. The enzymatic and cytotoxic properties of the protein's recombinant forms were studied. Recombinant onconase with an additional N-terminal Met residue isolated in nondenaturing conditions did not substantially differ from the native enzyme in ribonucleolytic activity. The addition of a 33-mer peptide containing auxiliary elements for the simplification of isolation and detection of the recombinant protein did not affect the enzyme properties of onconase. The method proposed is useful for the onconase structure-function relation studies and enables construction of onconase-based fusion proteins for anticancer therapy.

Enzyme mimicry by the antiidiotypic antibody approach.

The concept of "internal image" of antiidiotypic antibodies has provided the basis for eliciting catalytic antibodies. A monoclonal IgM 9A8 that was obtained as an antiidiotype to AE-2 mAb, a known inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase, displayed esterolytic activity. Study of recombinant Fab fragments and separate light and heavy chains of 9A8 confirmed that the antibody variable domain encodes the catalytic function, whereas neither part of the primary sequence of the Fab exhibited homology with the enzyme. The specific modification of the 9A8 variable domain by an active site-directed covalent inhibitor revealed the presence of an active site Ser residue. A three-dimensional modeling suggests the existence of a functional catalytic dyad Ser-His. Comparison of active sites of 9A8 and 17E8 esterolytic abzyme raised against transition-state analog revealed structural similarity although both antibodies were elicited by two different approaches.

Autoantibodies to nuclear antigens: correlation between cytotoxicity and DNA-hydrolyzing activity.

The cytotoxicity of DNA-specific autoantibodies from sera of patients with systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE) and with lymphoproliferative diseases, and from blood of healthy donors was examined on tumor-cell lines L929 and HL-60. DNA-binding IgG fractions from SLE and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) sera were cytotoxic at concentrations of up to 10(-10) M. No detectable changes in cell viability were observed after incubation with antibodies devoid of DNA-binding activity and DNA-specific antibodies isolated from blood of healthy donors and patients with T-cell lymphoma, B-cell lymphosarcoma, and acute B-cell leukemia. There was good correlation between the cytotoxic activity and DNA-hydrolyzing activity of anti-DNA antibodies. The cytotoxic effect of DNA-binding antibodies presumably was complement-independent, because it was attributed only to the Fab fragment. The cytotoxic effect was completely inhibited by preincubation with double-stranded DNA (dsDNA). Both the cytotoxic effect and the DNA-hydrolyzing activity of anti-DNA antibodies were significantly increased in the antibody fraction that displayed cross-reactivity with nuclear matrix proteins. Possible mechanisms for the formation and pathogenicity of cytotoxic anti-DNA antibodies are discussed in this article.

Novel functional activities of anti-DNA autoantibodies from sera of patients with lymphoproliferative and autoimmune diseases.

DNA-hydrolyzing activity of IgG autoantibodies from sera of patients with various types of lymphoproliferative diseases was investigated. The association of DNA-hydrolyzing activity with the antibody (Ab) fraction has been proved by newly developed affinity-capture assay. Study of abzyme incidence in blood tumors and systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE) revealed linkage of anti-DNA Ab catalysts to mature B-cell tumors, and increased probability of DNA-abzymes formation on the background of autoimmune manifestations. These data suggest possible similarity between mechanisms of abzyme formation in SLE and B-cell lymphomas. A new mechanism of formation of DNA-specific catalytic Abs has been proposed based on the increased crossreactivity of polyclonal DNA-abzymes to DNA-depleted nuclear matrix proteins. The possibility of the abzyme production as Ab to the energetically destabilized ground state of the antigen has been discussed. Preliminary results were obtained that indicate the complement-independent cytotoxicity of anti-DNA autoantibodies isolated from blood of patients with SLE and chronic lymphocytic leukemia.