Isolation and Production of Human Monoclonal Antibody Proteins against a Toxocara canis Excretory-Secretory Recombinant Antigen.

Toxocariasis is a widespread zoonotic parasitic disease with a significant socioeconomic impact, particularly on underprivileged communities. Limitations of existing diagnostic tools and vague presenting symptoms may lead to misdiagnosis, thus underestimating the actual global impact of the disease. The present study describes the isolation and production of novel recombinant monoclonal antibodies against Toxocara canis recombinant TES-26 antigen (rTES-26) utilizing a human helminth scFv phage display library. The isolated antibody clones were characterized based on their gene sequences and binding characteristics. Three clones representing unique gene families (clone 48: IgHV3-LV1; clone 49: IgHV3-LV3; clone 50: IgHV6-LV3) were isolated, but only clones 48 and 49 showed successful insertion of the full-length scFv antibody sequence after sub-cloning. Both clones produced antibody proteins of good solubility and satisfactory yield and purity. Binding assays via Western blot and ELISA using rTES-26 and Toxocara canis native protein showed that both monoclonal antibodies were highly specific and sensitive to the target antigen. A preliminary antigen detection ELISA showed the diagnostic potential of the monoclonal antibody proteins. The proteins can also be useful in studying host−parasite interactions and therapeutic applications.

Generation of human scFv-IgG1Fc antibodies for detection of lymphatic filarial recombinant antigens, BmR1 and BmSXP.

Lymphatic filariasis is a neglected parasitic disease that affects millions in tropical and subtropical countries and is caused by Wuchereria and Brugia species. Specific and sensitive detection methods are essential in mapping infected areas where rapid tests are needed to cover underdeveloped and remote regions, which facilitates eliminating the disease as a public health problem. A few commercialized rapid tests based on antigen or antibody detection are available, but the former only detects infection by Wuchereria species and cross-reacts with nonlymphatic filaria, whereas antibody detection might provide positive results of previous infection. Here, we report the production of three different recombinant immunoglobulin gamma (IgG)1 antibodies based on scFvs previously generated via human antibody phage display technology, that is, anti-BmR1 clone 4, anti-BmXSP clone 5B, and anti-BmXSP clone 2H2. The scFv sequences were cloned into a pCMV-IgG1 vector, then transfected into a HEK293F cell line. The generated antibodies were found to be able to bind to their respective targets even at relatively low concentration. Conjugation of Fc to scFv induces binder stability and provides multiple labeling sites for probes and signaling molecules that can be used in rapid tests.

Serum Adsorption Study to Validate the Specificity of a Rapid Test to Detect Strongyloides stercoralis Infection.

A lateral flow rapid test for strongyloidiasis will greatly facilitate the control and elimination of the disease. Previously SsRapid prototype rapid test showed high diagnostic specificity to detect Strongyloides infection, determined using non-Strongyloides sera negative by IgG-ELISAs. Since high specificity is crucial before a test is used for public health control activities, further validation of its specificity is needed. Also, it needs to be ascertained whether non-Strongyloides sera positive by IgG-ELISAs and SsRapid are truly positive for Strongyloides or are cases of cross-reactivity. We performed 84 rapid tests (two types of dipsticks and cassettes) using 34 serum samples. They were divided into four groups based on Strongyloides infection and coinfection with other parasites and the availability of recombinant proteins and rapid tests for the latter. Sera was adsorbed using polystyrene microspheres beads separately coated with four recombinant parasite proteins. The small sample size is a limitation of this study; however, the overall results showed that the sera adsorption procedure was successful, and the SsRapid test is specific.

A new antigen detection ELISA for the diagnosis of Strongyloides infection.

Serodiagnosis is an essential component of the laboratory diagnosis of Strongyloides infection and is usually performed using an indirect IgG antibody test. A direct antigen detection method can complement the IgG assay, particularly for detecting early infection and post-treatment follow-up. In the present study, a recombinant scFv monoclonal antibody against NIE recombinant protein (rMAb23) that we had previously produced was used to develop a Strongyloides antigen detection ELISA (SsAg-ELISA). The assay is based on detecting immune complexes of circulating NIE antigens bound to Strongyloides-specific IgG antibodies. The optimized ELISA parameters were 10 µg/mL of rMAb23 coated on microtitre plate wells, 2% skim milk as blocking reagent, 1:100 serum dilution, and 1:1000 goat anti-human IgG F(ab')2 conjugated to horseradish peroxidase. Four groups of serum samples were used, i.e., Strongyloides-positive serum samples categorized into Groups IA and IB; the former were from probable chronic infections and the latter from probable early/acute infections. Strongyloides-negative samples comprising Groups II (healthy samples) and III (other infections); the latter were from eleven different types of other parasitic infections. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve showed an area under the curve (AUC) of 1.00, cut-off optical density (OD405) of 0.5002, and 100% diagnostic sensitivity and specificity. The results of the commercial IgG-ELISA and SsAg-ELISA from Group IA were found to be moderately correlated (r = 0.416; p < 0.05). Notably, ANOVA showed that the average ODs405 of Group 1B were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than Group 1A, indicating that the assay may be useful to differentiate early and chronic infection. In conclusion, the developed SsAg-ELISA showed good diagnostic potential, and it merits further evaluation.

Broad specificity of immune helminth scFv library to identify monoclonal antibodies targeting Strongyloides.

Antibodies have different chemical properties capable of targeting a diverse nature of antigens. Traditionally, immune antibody libraries are perceived to be disease-specific with a skewed repertoire. The complexity during the generation of a combinatorial antibody library allows for a skewed but diverse repertoire to be generated. Strongyloides stercoralis is a parasite that causes strongyloidiasis, a potentially life-threatening disease with a complex diagnosis that impedes effective control and treatment of the disease. This study describes the isolation of monoclonal antibodies against S. stercoralis NIE recombinant protein using an immune antibody phage display library derived from lymphatic filaria-infected individuals. The isolated antibody clones showed both lambda and kappa light chains gene usage, with diverse amino acid distributions. Structural analysis showed that electropositivity and the interface area could determine the binding affinity of the clones with NIE. The successful identification of S. stercoralis antibodies from the filarial immune library highlights the breadth of antibody gene diversification in an immune antibody library that can be applied for closely related infections.

Applicability of Brugia malayi immune antibody library for the isolation of a human recombinant monoclonal antibody to Echinococcus granulosus antigen B.

Echinococcus granulosus is a worldwide zoonotic infection that causes human cystic echinococcosis (CE) or hydatid disease. The present study describes the isolation and production of a monoclonal antibody against recombinant AgB protein using the developed Human AntibodY Disease ENhanced (HAYDEN)-Filariasis library. The DNA sequences of the isolated clones were analyzed, followed by gene analysis and binding assays. Clone E1 showed a full-length sequence and represents the IgHV5-LV3 antibody gene family. The antibody protein yield was satisfactory, and it reacted specifically against rAgB. The novel E1 protein is potentially useful for the development of an antigen detection assay for CE. The ability of the Brugia malayi immune antibody library to isolate antibodies against Echinococcus granulosus antigens highlights the broad coverage of immune antibody libraries.

Applications of Recombinant Monoclonal Antibodies against Filarial Antigen Proteins.

This study investigated the applications of recombinant monoclonal antibodies (rmAbs) produced against two recombinant filarial proteins of diagnostic value. Ab5B and Ab3A were produced against recombinant BmSXP, and Ab4 and Ab4-fragment crystallizable (Fc) against recombinant BmR1. Ab5B and Ab4-Fc were found to be useful as quality control (QC) reagents for two commercial rapid test kits, such as Brugia RapidTM and BLF Rapid® (Reszon Diagnostics International Sdn. Bhd., 47600 Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia), respectively. The two rmAbs reacted positively with the corresponding recombinant proteins lined on the nitrocellulose strips of the cassette tests, thus may replace or reduce the need for patient serum samples as positive controls for QC of the commercial kits. They were also successfully conjugated to gold nanoparticles and reacted positively with the test lines containing the corresponding recombinant proteins when directly applied to the cassette tests. The gold-conjugated reagents can be used to confirm the antigenicity of test lines after the storage of the rapid tests for a prolonged period or under unfavorable conditions. Furthermore, Ab5B and Ab3A were shown to be able to capture the target recombinant proteins through immunoaffinity purification, enabling their use for applications that need very highly purified proteins. In conclusion, this study demonstrated several potential uses of rmAb proteins produced against recombinant filarial proteins.

Development of an Antigen Detection ELISA for Bancroftian Filariasis Using BmSXP-Specific Recombinant Monoclonal Antibody.

Lymphatic filariasis is a mosquito-borne parasitic disease responsible for morbidity and disability that affects 1.2 billion people worldwide, mainly the poor communities. Currently, filarial antigen testing is the method of choice for the detection of bancroftian filariasis, and to date, there are two commonly used tests. In the present study, a recently reported recombinant monoclonal antibody (5B) specific to BmSXP filarial antigen was used in developing an ELISA for the detection of circulating filarial antigen in sera of patients with bancroftian filariasis. The performance of the ELISA was evaluated using 124 serum samples. The ELISA was positive with all sera from microfilaremic bancroftian filariasis patients (n = 34). It also showed 100% diagnostic specificity when tested with sera from 50 healthy individuals and 40 patients with other parasitic diseases. The developed assay using the novel 5B recombinant monoclonal antibody could potentially be a promising alternative antigen detection test for bancroftian filariasis.

Antibody-Based Protective Immunity against Helminth Infections: Antibody Phage Display Derived Antibodies against BmR1 Antigen.

Helminth parasite infections are significantly impacting global health, with more than two billion infections worldwide with a high morbidity rate. The complex life cycle of the nematodes has made host immune response studies against these parasites extremely difficult. In this study, we utilized two phage antibody libraries; the immune and naïve library were used to identify single chain fragment variable (scFv) clones against a specific filarial antigen (BmR1). The V-gene analysis of isolated scFv clones will help shed light on preferential VDJ gene segment usage against the filarial BmR1 antigen in healthy and infected states. The immune library showed the usage of both lambda and kappa light chains. However, the naïve library showed preferential use of the lambda family with different amino acid distributions. The binding characteristics of the scFv clones identified from this work were analyzed by immunoassay and immunoaffinity pull down of BmR1. The work highlights the antibody gene usage pattern of a naïve and immune antibody library against the same antigen as well as the robust nature of the enriched antibodies for downstream applications.

Naïve Human Antibody Libraries for Infectious Diseases.

Many countries are facing an uphill battle in combating the spread of infectious diseases. The constant evolution of microorganisms magnifies the problem as it facilitates the re-emergence of old infectious diseases as well as promote the introduction of new and more deadly variants. Evidently, infectious diseases have contributed to an alarming rate of mortality worldwide making it a growing concern. Historically, antibodies have been used successfully to prevent and treat infectious diseases since the nineteenth century using antisera collected from immunized animals. The inherent ability of antibodies to trigger effector mechanisms aids the immune system to fight off pathogens that invades the host. Immune libraries have always been an important source of antibodies for infectious diseases due to the skewed repertoire generated post infection. Even so, the role and ability of naïve antibody libraries should not be underestimated. The naïve repertoire has its own unique advantages in generating antibodies against target antigens. This chapter will highlight the concept, advantages and application of human naïve libraries as a source to isolate antibodies against infectious disease target antigens.

Delineation of BmSXP antibody V-gene usage from a lymphatic filariasis based immune scFv antibody library.

Phage display technology is an important tool for antibody generation or selection. This study describes the development of a scFv library and the subsequent analysis of identified monoclonal antibodies against BmSXP, a recombinant antigen for lymphatic filariasis. The immune library was generated from blood of lymphatic filariasis infected individuals. A TA based intermediary cloning approach was used to increase cloning efficiency for the library construction process. A diverse immune scFv library of 10(8) was generated. Six unique monoclonal antibodies were identified from the 50 isolated clones against BmSXP. Analysis of the clones showed a bias for the IgHV3 and Vκ1 (45.5%) and IgHV2 and Vκ3 (27.3%) gene family. The most favored J segment for light chain is IgKJ1 (45.5%). The most favored D and J segment for heavy chain are IgHD6-13 (75%) and IgHJ3 (47.7%). The information may suggest a predisposition of certain V genes in antibody responses against lymphatic filariasis.

Production of Toxocara cati TES-120 Recombinant Antigen and Comparison with its T. canis Homolog for Serodiagnosis of Toxocariasis.

Toxocariasis is a cosmopolitan zoonotic disease caused by the infective larvae of Toxocara canis and T. cati. Diagnosis in humans is usually based on clinical symptoms and serology. Immunoglobulin G (IgG)-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits using T. canis excretory-secretory (TES) larval antigens are commonly used for serodiagnosis. Differences in the antigens of the two Toxocara species may influence the diagnostic sensitivity of the test. In this study, T. cati recombinant TES-120 (rTES-120) was cloned, expressed, and compared with its T. canis homolog in an IgG4-western blot. The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of T. cati rTES-120 were 70% (33/47) and 100% (39/39), respectively. T. canis rTES-120 showed 57.4% sensitivity and 94.4% specificity. When the results of assays using rTES-120 of both species were considered, the diagnostic sensitivity was 76%. This study shows that using antigens from both Toxocara species may improve the serodiagnosis of toxocariasis.

Triplex PCR using new primers for the detection of Toxoplasma gondii.

Molecular methods are used increasingly for the detection of Toxoplasma gondii infection. This study developed a rapid, sensitive, and specific conventional triplex PCR for the detection of the B1 gene and ITS1 region of T. gondii using newly designed primers and an internal control based on the Vibrio cholerae HemM gene. The annealing temperature and concentrations of the primers, MgCl(2), and dNTPs were optimized. Two sets of primers (set 1 and 2) were tested, which contained different segments of the T. gondii B1 gene, 529 repeat region and ITS1 region. A series of sensitivity tests were performed using parasite DNA, whole parasites, and spiked human body fluids. Specificity tests were performed using DNA from common protozoa and bacteria. The newly developed assay based on set 2 primers was found to be specific and sensitive. The test was capable of detecting as little as 10 pg T. gondii DNA, 10(4) tachyzoites in spiked body fluids, and T. gondii DNA in the organ tissues of experimentally infected mice. The assay developed in this study will be useful for the laboratory detection of T. gondii infection.

A pentaplex real-time polymerase chain reaction assay for detection of four species of soil-transmitted helminths.

Soil-transmitted helminth infections remain a major public health burden in low- and middle-income countries. The traditional diagnosis by microscopic examination of fecal samples is insensitive and time-consuming. In this study, a pentaplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was evaluated for the simultaneous detection of Ancylostoma, Necator americanus, Ascaris lumbricoides, and Strongyloides stercoralis. The results were compared with those obtained by conventional parasitological diagnostic methods. Real-time PCR was positive in 48 of 77 samples (62.3%) and microscopic examination was positive in six samples (7.8%) only (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the real-time PCR assay described in this study provides a specific and sensitive diagnostic tool for the detection of these four helminth species in epidemiological studies and monitoring of treatment programs.

Potential effects of chrysin on MDA-MB-231 cells.

This study aims to elucidate the effects of chrysin on human ER-negative breast cancer cell line, MDA-MB-231. The study demonstrated that treatment of MDA-MB-231 cells with 20 microM chysin for 48 h significantly inhibited the growth of MDA-MB-231 cells and induced cytoplasmic lipid accumulation in the cells, but that the observed of cell death was not caused by apoptosis. The expression of PPARalpha mRNA in chrysin-treated MDA-MB-231 cells was significantly increased, which was likely associated to the proliferation of the cells post chrysin treatment.