Recent Advances in Tick Antigen Discovery and Anti-Tick Vaccine Development.

Ticks can seriously affect human and animal health around the globe, causing significant economic losses each year. Chemical acaricides are widely used to control ticks, which negatively impact the environment and result in the emergence of acaricide-resistant tick populations. A vaccine is considered as one of the best alternative approaches to control ticks and tick-borne diseases, as it is less expensive and more effective than chemical controls. Many antigen-based vaccines have been developed as a result of current advances in transcriptomics, genomics, and proteomic techniques. A few of these (e.g., Gavac® and TickGARD®) are commercially available and are commonly used in different countries. Furthermore, a significant number of novel antigens are being investigated with the perspective of developing new anti-tick vaccines. However, more research is required to develop new and more efficient antigen-based vaccines, including on assessing the efficiency of various epitopes against different tick species to confirm their cross-reactivity and their high immunogenicity. In this review, we discuss the recent advancements in the development of antigen-based vaccines (traditional and RNA-based) and provide a brief overview of recent discoveries of novel antigens, along with their sources, characteristics, and the methods used to test their efficiency.

Molecular basis of anticoagulant and anticomplement activity of the tick salivary protein Salp14 and its homologs.

During feeding, a tick's mouthpart penetrates the host's skin and damages tissues and small blood vessels, triggering the extrinsic coagulation and lectin complement pathways. To elude these defense mechanisms, ticks secrete multiple anticoagulant proteins and complement system inhibitors in their saliva. Here, we characterized the inhibitory activities of the homologous tick salivary proteins tick salivary lectin pathway inhibitor, Salp14, and Salp9Pac from Ixodesscapularis in the coagulation cascade and the lectin complement pathway. All three proteins inhibited binding of mannan-binding lectin to the polysaccharide mannan, preventing the activation of the lectin complement pathway. In contrast, only Salp14 showed an appreciable effect on coagulation by prolonging the lag time of thrombin generation. We found that the anticoagulant properties of Salp14 are governed by its basic tail region, which resembles the C terminus of tissue factor pathway inhibitor alpha and blocks the assembly and/or activity of the prothrombinase complex in the same way. Moreover, the Salp14 protein tail contributes to the inhibition of the lectin complement pathway via interaction with mannan binding lectin-associated serine proteases. Furthermore, we identified BaSO4-adsorbing protein 1 isolated from the tick Ornithodoros savignyi as a distant homolog of tick salivary lectin pathway inhibitor/Salp14 proteins and showed that it inhibits the lectin complement pathway but not coagulation. The structure of BaSO4-adsorbing protein 1, solved here using NMR spectroscopy, indicated that this protein adopts a noncanonical epidermal growth factor domain-like structural fold, the first such report for tick salivary proteins. These data support a mechanism by which tick saliva proteins simultaneously inhibit both the host coagulation cascade and the lectin complement pathway.

Chemokines and galectins form heterodimers to modulate inflammation.

Chemokines and galectins are simultaneously upregulated and mediate leukocyte recruitment during inflammation. Until now, these effector molecules have been considered to function independently. Here, we tested the hypothesis that they form molecular hybrids. By systematically screening chemokines for their ability to bind galectin-1 and galectin-3, we identified several interacting pairs, such as CXCL12 and galectin-3. Based on NMR and MD studies of the CXCL12/galectin-3 heterodimer, we identified contact sites between CXCL12 ß-strand 1 and Gal-3 F-face residues. Mutagenesis of galectin-3 residues involved in heterodimer formation resulted in reduced binding to CXCL12, enabling testing of functional activity comparatively. Galectin-3, but not its mutants, inhibited CXCL12-induced chemotaxis of leukocytes and their recruitment into the mouse peritoneum. Moreover, galectin-3 attenuated CXCL12-stimulated signaling via its receptor CXCR4 in a ternary complex with the chemokine and receptor, consistent with our structural model. This first report of heterodimerization between chemokines and galectins reveals a new type of interaction between inflammatory mediators that can underlie a novel immunoregulatory mechanism in inflammation. Thus, further exploration of the chemokine/galectin interactome is warranted.

Roles of Focal Adhesion Kinase PTK2 and Integrin αIIbß3 Signaling in Collagen- and GPVI-Dependent Thrombus Formation under Shear.

Glycoprotein (GP)VI and integrin αIIbß3 are key signaling receptors in collagen-dependent platelet aggregation and in arterial thrombus formation under shear. The multiple downstream signaling pathways are still poorly understood. Here, we focused on disclosing the integrin-dependent roles of focal adhesion kinase (protein tyrosine kinase 2, PTK2), the shear-dependent collagen receptor GPR56 (ADGRG1 gene), and calcium and integrin-binding protein 1 (CIB1). We designed and synthetized peptides that interfered with integrin αIIb binding (pCIB and pCIBm) or mimicked the activation of GPR56 (pGRP). The results show that the combination of pGRP with PTK2 inhibition or of pGRP with pCIB > pCIBm in additive ways suppressed collagen- and GPVI-dependent platelet activation, thrombus buildup, and contraction. Microscopic thrombus formation was assessed by eight parameters (with script descriptions enclosed). The suppressive rather than activating effects of pGRP were confined to blood flow at a high shear rate. Blockage of PTK2 or interference of CIB1 no more than slightly affected thrombus formation at a low shear rate. Peptides did not influence GPVI-induced aggregation and Ca2+ signaling in the absence of shear. Together, these data reveal a shear-dependent signaling axis of PTK2, integrin αIIbß3, and CIB1 in collagen- and GPVI-dependent thrombus formation, which is modulated by GPR56 and exclusively at high shear. This work thereby supports the role of PTK2 in integrin αIIbß3 activation and signaling.

Structural characterization of anti-CCL5 activity of the tick salivary protein evasin-4.

Ticks, as blood-sucking parasites, have developed a complex strategy to evade and suppress host immune responses during feeding. The crucial part of this strategy is expression of a broad family of salivary proteins, called Evasins, to neutralize chemokines responsible for cell trafficking and recruitment. However, structural information about Evasins is still scarce, and little is known about the structural determinants of their binding mechanism to chemokines. Here, we studied the structurally uncharacterized Evasin-4, which neutralizes a broad range of CC-motif chemokines, including the chemokine CC-motif ligand 5 (CCL5) involved in atherogenesis. Crystal structures of Evasin-4 and E66S CCL5, an obligatory dimeric variant of CCL5, were determined to a resolution of 1.3-1.8 Å. The Evasin-4 crystal structure revealed an L-shaped architecture formed by an N- and C-terminal subdomain consisting of eight ß-strands and an α-helix that adopts a substantially different position compared with closely related Evasin-1. Further investigation into E66S CCL5-Evasin-4 complex formation with NMR spectroscopy showed that residues of the N terminus are involved in binding to CCL5. The peptide derived from the N-terminal region of Evasin-4 possessed nanomolar affinity to CCL5 and inhibited CCL5 activity in monocyte migration assays. This suggests that Evasin-4 derivatives could be used as a starting point for the development of anti-inflammatory drugs.

Exogenous Integrin αIIbß3 Inhibitors Revisited: Past, Present and Future Applications.

The integrin αIIbß3 is the most abundant integrin on platelets. Upon platelet activation, the integrin changes its conformation (inside-out signalling) and outside-in signalling takes place leading to platelet spreading, platelet aggregation and thrombus formation. Bloodsucking parasites such as mosquitoes, leeches and ticks express anticoagulant and antiplatelet proteins, which represent major sources of lead compounds for the development of useful therapeutic agents for the treatment of haemostatic disorders or cardiovascular diseases. In addition to hematophagous parasites, snakes also possess anticoagulant and antiplatelet proteins in their salivary glands. Two snake venom proteins have been developed into two antiplatelet drugs that are currently used in the clinic. The group of proteins discussed in this review are disintegrins, low molecular weight integrin-binding cysteine-rich proteins, found in snakes, ticks, leeches, worms and horseflies. Finally, we highlight various oral antagonists, which have been tested in clinical trials but were discontinued due to an increase in mortality. No new αIIbß3 inhibitors are developed since the approval of current platelet antagonists, and structure-function analysis of exogenous disintegrins could help find platelet antagonists with fewer adverse side effects.

Tick saliva protein Evasin-3 modulates chemotaxis by disrupting CXCL8 interactions with glycosaminoglycans and CXCR2.

Chemokines are a group of chemotaxis proteins that regulate cell trafficking and play important roles in immune responses and inflammation. Ticks are blood-sucking parasites that secrete numerous immune-modulatory agents in their saliva to evade host immune responses. Evasin-3 is a small salivary protein that belongs to a class of chemokine-binding proteins isolated from the brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus Evasin-3 has been shown to have a high affinity for chemokines CXCL1 and CXCL8 and to diminish inflammation in mice. In the present study, solution NMR spectroscopy was used to investigate the structure of Evasin-3 and its CXCL8-Evasin-3 complex. Evasin-3 is found to disrupt the glycosaminoglycan-binding site of CXCL8 and inhibit the interaction of CXCL8 with CXCR2. Structural data were used to design two novel CXCL8-binding peptides. The linear tEv3 17-56 and cyclic tcEv3 16-56 dPG Evasin-3 variants were chemically synthesized by solid-phase peptide synthesis. The affinity of these newly synthesized variants to CXCL8 was measured by surface plasmon resonance biosensor analysis. The Kd values of tEv3 17-56 and tcEv3 16-56 dPG were 27 and 13 nm, respectively. Both compounds effectively inhibited CXCL8-induced migration of polymorphonuclear neutrophils. The present results suggest utility of synthetic Evasin-3 variants as scaffolds for designing and fine-tuning new chemokine-binding agents that suppress immune responses and inflammation.

Tick Saliva Protein Evasin-3 Allows for Visualization of Inflammation in Arteries through Interactions with CXC-Type Chemokines Deposited on Activated Endothelium.

Atherosclerosis is one of the leading causes of mortality in developed and developing countries. The onset of atherosclerosis development is accompanied by overexpression of several inflammatory chemokines. Neutralization of these chemokines by chemokine-binding agents attenuates atherosclerosis progression. Here, we studied structural binding features of the tick protein Evasin-3 to chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 1 (CXCL1). We showed that Evasin-3-bound CXCL1 is unable to activate the CXCR2 receptor, but retains affinity to glycosaminoglycans. This observation was exploited to detect inflammation by visualizing a group of closely related CXC-type chemokines deposited on cell walls in human endothelial cells and murine carotid arteries by a fluorescent Evasin-3 conjugate. This work highlights the applicability of tick-derived chemokine-binding conjugates as a platform for the development of new agents for inflammation imaging.

Target identification for the diagnosis and intervention of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques beyond 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography imaging: promising tracers on the horizon.

Cardiovascular disease is the major cause of morbidity and mortality in developed countries and atherosclerosis is the major cause of cardiovascular disease. Atherosclerotic lesions obstruct blood flow in the arterial vessel wall and can rupture leading to the formation of occlusive thrombi. Conventional diagnostic tools are still of limited value for identifying the vulnerable arterial plaque and for predicting its risk of rupture and of releasing thromboembolic material. Knowledge of the molecular and biological processes implicated in the process of atherosclerosis will advance the development of imaging probes to differentiate the vulnerable plaque. The development of imaging probes with high sensitivity and specificity in identifying high-risk atherosclerotic vessel wall changes and plaques is crucial for improving knowledge-based decisions and tailored individual interventions. Arterial PET imaging with 18F-FDG has shown promising results in identifying inflammatory vessel wall changes in numerous studies and clinical trials. However, due to its limited specificity in general and its intense physiological uptake in the left ventricular myocardium that impair imaging of the coronary arteries, different PET tracers for the molecular imaging of atherosclerosis have been evaluated. This review describes biological, chemical and medical expertise supporting a translational approach that will enable the development of new or the evaluation of existing PET tracers for the identification of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques for better risk prediction and benefit to patients.

CXCL1 promotes arteriogenesis through enhanced monocyte recruitment into the peri-collateral space.

AIMS: The mechanisms of monocyte recruitment to arteriogenic collaterals are largely unknown. We investigated the role of chemokine (C-X-C-motif) ligand 1 (CXCL1) and its cognate receptor, chemokine (C-X-C-motif) receptor 2 (CXCR2) in arteriogenesis. METHODS AND RESULTS: After femoral artery ligation in Sprague-Dawley rats, either native collaterals were harvested or placebo, CXCL1 or CXCR2 blocker was administered via an osmopump. Perfusion recovery was measured with Laser Doppler, leukocyte populations were analyzed by fluorescence-activated cell sorting, and hind limb sections were stained for macrophage marker cluster of differentiation 68 (CD68). In vitro, fluorescent CXCL1 or human acute monocytic leukemia cell line (THP-1) monocytic cells were flown over shear-stressed endothelium. CXCL1 mRNA expression in collaterals was dramatically upregulated already 1 h after ligation (ratio ligated/sham 5.73). CD68 mRNA was upregulated from 12 h until 3 days after ligation (peak ratio ligated/sham 2.65). CXCL1 treatment augmented perfusion recovery at 3 and 7 days (p < 0.05) after ligation, and a significant increase in the number of peri-collateral macrophages was evident concomitantly (p < 0.05). Conversely, CXCR2 antagonist treatment caused a decrease in perfusion recovery both at 7 and 10 days postligation (p = 0.01) and also significantly reduced the number of peri-collateral macrophages (p < 0.05). In vitro, CXCL1 tethered to and was taken up by endothelial cells under shear stress conditions and enhanced THP-1 adherence compared to control (p < 0.05). In contrast, CXCR2 antagonist compromised THP-1 adherence to endothelial cells (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: CXCL1 presented on the luminal endothelial surface leads to an increase in the number of peri-collateral macrophages, thus improving the arteriogenic response after arterial ligation.

Coupling of surface plasmon resonance and mass spectrometry for molecular interaction studies in drug discovery.

Various analytical technologies have been developed for the study of target-ligand interactions. The combination of these technologies gives pivotal information on the binding mechanism, kinetics, affinity, residence time, and changes in molecular structures. Mass spectrometry (MS) offers structural information, enabling the identification and quantification of target-ligand interactions. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) provides kinetic information on target-ligand interaction in real time. The coupling of MS and SPR complements each other in the studies of target-ligand interactions. Over the last two decades, the capabilities and added values of SPR-MS have been reported. This review summarizes and highlights the benefits, applications, and potential for further research of the SPR-MS approach.

Cath-HG improves the survival rates and symptoms in LPS-induced septic mice due to its multifunctional properties.

The clinical syndrome of sepsis arises from severe infection, triggering an abnormal immune response that can lead to multiple organ dysfunction and ultimately the death of the host. Current therapies for sepsis are often limited in efficacy and fail to target the complex interplay of infection, inflammation and coagulation, leading to high mortality rates, which underscores the urgent need for novel therapeutics to combat sepsis. We previously identified Cath-HG, a compound capable of alleviating platelet dysfunction by suppressing GPVI-mediated platelet activation, thereby improving the survival of septic mice subjected to cecal ligation and puncture. Here, we further explored the antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, LPS-neutralizing and anticoagulant properties of Cath-HG, as well as its protective effects in LPS-induced septic mice. Our results demonstrated that Cath-HG can bind to LPS, aggregate bacteria, and disrupt bacterial cell membranes, subsequently resulting in microbial death. Unlike most other Cathelicidins, Cath-HG displayed anticoagulation properties by regulating the enzymes plasmin, thrombin, ß-tryptase, chymase and tissue plasminogen activator. In septic mice, Cath-HG provided protection against sepsis induced by LPS injection and exhibited bactericidal killing, LPS neutralization and inhibition of coagulation and MAPK signal transduction. Furthermore, Cath-HG obviously reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and improved the pathological manifestations of tissue injury across multiple organs. Thus, Cath-HG emerges as a promising drug candidate for protecting against sepsis.

Cathelicidin-HG Alleviates Sepsis-Induced Platelet Dysfunction by Inhibiting GPVI-Mediated Platelet Activation.

Platelet activation contributes to sepsis development, leading to microthrombosis and increased inflammation, which results in disseminated intravascular coagulation and multiple organ dysfunction. Although Cathelicidin can alleviate sepsis, its role in sepsis regulation remains largely unexplored. In this study, we identified Cath-HG, a novel Cathelicidin from Hylarana guentheri skin, and analyzed its structure using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The modulatory effect of Cath-HG on the symptoms of mice with sepsis induced by cecal ligation and puncture was evaluated in vivo, and the platelet count, degree of organ damage, and microthrombosis were measured. The antiplatelet aggregation activity of Cath-HG was studied in vitro, and its target was verified. Finally, we further investigated whether Cath-HG could regulate thrombosis in vivo in a FeCl3 injury-induced carotid artery model. The results showed that Cath-HG exhibited an α-helical structure in sodium dodecyl sulfate solution and effectively reduced organ inflammation and damage, improving survival in septic mice. It alleviated sepsis-induced thrombocytopenia and microthrombosis. In vitro, Cath-HG specifically inhibited collagen-induced platelet aggregation and modulated glycoprotein VI (GPVI) signaling pathways. Dot blotting, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and pull-down experiments confirmed GPVI as the target of Cath-HG. Molecular docking and amino acid residue truncations/mutations identified crucial sites of Cath-HG. These findings suggest that GPVI represents a promising therapeutic target for sepsis, and Cath-HG may serve as a potential treatment for sepsis-related thrombocytopenia and thrombotic events. Additionally, identifying Cath-HG as a GPVI inhibitor provides insights for developing novel antithrombotic therapies targeting platelet activation mediated by GPVI.

Synthesis and application of cNGR-containing imaging agents for detection of angiogenesis.

Angiogenesis is a multi-step process regulated by pro- and anti-angiogenic factors. Inhibition of angiogenesis is a potential anti cancer treatment strategy that is now investigated clinically. In addition, advances in the understanding of the angiogenic process have led to the development of new angiogenesis therapies for ischemic heart disease. Currently, researchers search for objective measures that indicate pharmacological responses to pro- and anti-angiogenic drugs and therefore, there is a great interest in techniques to visualize angiogenesis noninvasively. As CD13 is selectively expressed in angiogenic blood vessels, it can serve as a target for molecular imaging tracers to noninvasively visualize angiogenic processes in animal models and patients. Here, an overview on the currently used CD13 targeted molecular imaging probes for noninvasive visualization of angiogenesis is given.

Specific N-terminal attachment of TMTHSI linkers to native peptides and proteins for strain-promoted azide alkyne cycloaddition.

The site specific attachment of the reactive TMTHSI-click handle to the N-terminus of peptides and proteins is described. The resulting molecular constructs can be used in strain-promoted azide alkyne cycloaddition (SPAAC) for reaction with azide containing proteins e.g., antibodies, peptides, nanoparticles, fluorescent dyes, chelators for radioactive isotopes and SPR-chips etc.

Novel Amphibian Bowman-Birk-Like Inhibitor with Antioxidant and Anticoagulant Effects Ameliorates Pancreatitis Symptoms in Mice.

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a serious inflammatory disorder and still lacks effective therapy globally. In this study, a novel Ranacyclin peptide, Ranacin, was identified from the skin of Pelophylax nigromaculatus frog. Ranacin adopted a compact ß-hairpin conformation with a disulfide bond (Cys5-Cys15). Ranacin was also demonstrated effectively to inhibit trypsin and have anticoagulant and antioxidant activities in vitro. Furthermore, the severity of pancreatitis was significantly alleviated in l-Arg-induced AP mice after treatment with Ranacin. In addition, structure-activity studies of Ranacin analogues confirmed that the sequences outside the trypsin inhibitory loop (TIL), especially at the C-terminal side, might be closely associated with the efficacy of its trypsin inhibitory activity. In conclusion, our data suggest that Ranacin can improve pancreatic injury in mice with severe AP through its multi-activity. Therefore, Ranacin is considered a potential drug candidate in AP therapy.

Exploring the Chemical Properties and Medicinal Applications of Tetramethylthiocycloheptyne Sulfoximine Used in Strain-Promoted Azide-Alkyne Cycloaddition Reactions.

The recently developed compound, tetramethylthiocycloheptyne sulfoximine (TMTHSI), has shown to be a promising strained alkyne for strain-promoted azide-alkyne cycloaddition (SPAAC), metal-free click chemistry. This research explores the properties of TMTHSI-based compounds via three aspects: (1) large-scale production, (2) unique stability in acidic conditions and its subsequent use in peptide synthesis, and (3) the functionalization of antibodies. Here, it is shown that (1) scale-up is achieved on a scale of up to 100 g. (2) TMTHSI is remarkably stable against TFA allowing for the site-specific functionalization of peptides on resin. Finally, (3) the functionalization of an antibody with a model payload is very efficient, with antibody conjugation demonstrating more beneficial features such as a high yield and limited hydrophobicity as compared to other alkyne reagent conjugates. These results illustrate the high potential of TMTHSI for diverse bioconjugation applications, with production already being GMP-compatible and a highly efficient conversion resulting in attractive costs of goods.

The chemoselective reactions of tyrosine-containing G-protein-coupled receptor peptides with [Cp*Rh(H2O)3](OTf)2, including 2D NMR structures and the biological consequences.

The bioconjugation of organometallic complexes with peptides has proven to be a novel approach for drug discovery. We report the facile and chemoselective reaction of tyrosine-containing G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) peptides with [Cp*Rh(H(2)O)(3)](OTf)(2), in water, at room temperature, and at pH 5-6. We have focused on three important GPCR peptides; namely, [Tyr(1)]-leu-enkephalin, [Tyr(4)]-neurotensin(8-13), and [Tyr(3)]-octreotide, each of which has a different position for the tyrosine residue, together with competing functionalities. Importantly, all other functional groups present, i.e., amino, carboxyl, disulfide, phenyl, and indole, were not prominent sites of reactivity by the Cp*Rh tris aqua complex. Furthermore, the influence of the Cp*Rh moiety on the structure of [Tyr(3)]-octreotide was characterized by 2D NMR, resulting in the first representative structure of an organometallic-peptide complex. The biological consequences of these Cp*Rh-peptide complexes, with respect to GPCR binding and growth inhibition of MCF7 and HT29 cancer cells, will be presented for [(η(6)-Cp*Rh-Tyr(1))-leu-enkephalin](OTf)(2) and [(η(6)-Cp*Rh-Tyr(3))-octreotide](OTf)(2).

Molecular Detection of Venous Thrombosis in Mouse Models Using SPECT/CT.

The efficacy of thrombolysis is inversely correlated with thrombus age. During early thrombogenesis, activated factor XIII (FXIIIa) cross-links α2-AP to fibrin to protect it from early lysis. This was exploited to develop an α2-AP-based imaging agent to detect early clot formation likely susceptible to thrombolysis treatment. In this study, this imaging probe was improved and validated using 111In SPECT/CT in a mouse thrombosis model. In vitro fluorescent- and 111In-labelled imaging probe-to-fibrin cross-linking assays were performed. Thrombus formation was induced in C57Bl/6 mice by endothelial damage (FeCl3) or by ligation (stenosis) of the infrarenal vena cava (IVC). Two or six hours post-surgery, mice were injected with 111In-DTPA-A16 and ExiTron Nano 12000, and binding of the imaging tracer to thrombi was assessed by SPECT/CT. Subsequently, ex vivo IVCs were subjected to autoradiography and histochemical analysis for platelets and fibrin. Efficient in vitro cross-linking of A16 imaging probe to fibrin was obtained. In vivo IVC thrombosis models yielded stable platelet-rich thrombi with FeCl3 and fibrin and red cell-rich thrombi with stenosis. In the stenosis model, clot formation in the vena cava corresponded with a SPECT hotspot using an A16 imaging probe as a molecular tracer. The fibrin-targeting A16 probe showed specific binding to mouse thrombi in in vitro assays and the in vivo DVT model. The use of specific and covalent fibrin-binding probes might enable the clinical non-invasive imaging of early and active thrombosis.