Generation of human single-chain variable fragment antibodies specific to dengue virus non-structural protein 1 that interfere with the virus infectious cycle.

Severe forms of dengue virus (DENV) infection frequently cause high case fatality rate. Currently, there is no effective vaccine against the infection. Clinical cases are given only palliative treatment as specific anti-DENV immunotherapy is not available and it is urgently required. In this study, human single-chain variable fragment (HuScFv) antibodies that bound specifically to the conserved non-structural protein-1 (NS1) of DENV and interfered with the virus replication cycle were produced by using phage display technology. Recombinant NS1 (rNS1) of DENV serotype 2 (DENV2) was used as antigen in phage bio-panning to select phage clones that displayed HuScFv from antibody phage display library. HuScFv from two phagemid transformed E. coli clones, i.e., clones 11 and 13, bound to the rNS1 as well as native NS1 in both secreted and intracellular forms. Culture fluids of the HuScFv11/HuScFv13 exposed DENV2 infected cells had significant reduction of the infectious viral particles, implying that the antibody fragments affected the virus morphogenesis or release. HuScFv epitope mapping by phage mimotope searching revealed that HuScFv11 bound to amino acids 1-14 of NS1, while the HuScFv13 bound to conformational epitope at the C-terminal portion of the NS1. Although the functions of the epitopes and the molecular mechanism of the HuScFv11 and HuScFv13 require further investigations, these small antibodies have high potential for development as anti-DENV biomolecules.

Human single-chain variable fragment antibody inhibits macrophage migration inhibitory factor tautomerase activity.

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine, secreted from a variety of immune cells, that regulates innate and adaptive immune responses. Elevation of MIF levels in plasma correlates with the severity of inflammatory diseases in humans. Inhibition of MIF or its tautomerase activity ameliorates disease severity by reducing inflammatory responses. In this study, the human single-chain variable fragment (HuScFv) antibody specific to MIF was selected from the human antibody phage display library by using purified recombinant full-length human MIF (rMIF) as the target antigen. Monoclonal HuScFv was produced from phage-transformed bacteria and tested for their binding activities to rMIF by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay as well as to native MIF by western blot analysis and immunofluorescence assay. The HuScFv with highest binding signal to rMIF also inhibited the tautomerase activities of both rMIF and native MIF in human monoblastic leukemia (U937) cells in a dose-dependent manner. Mimotope searching and molecular docking concordantly demonstrated that the HuScFv interacted with Lys32 and Ile64 in the MIF tautomerase active site. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to focus on MIF-specific fully-human antibody fragment with a tautomerase-inhibitory effect that has potential to be developed as anti-inflammatory biomolecules for human use.

Humanized-VH/VHH that inhibit HCV replication by interfering with the virus helicase activity.

NS3 helicase is a pivotal enzyme involved in the early and late phases of hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication. The primary sequence and tertiary structure of this virus enzyme differ from human helicase to a certain extent; thus this virus protein has potential as a novel anti-HCV target. In this study, recombinant C-terminal NS3 protein of HCV genotype 3a with endowed helicase activity was produced and used as antigen by selecting VH/V(H)H display phage clones from an established humanized-camel single domain antibody library that bound specifically to HCV helicase. The VH/V(H)H derived from phage transfected Escherichia coli clones were linked molecularly to a cell penetrating peptide, i.e., penetratin (PEN). The cell penetrable VH/V(H)H (transbodies) could reduce the amounts of the HCV RNA released into the cell culture fluid and inside Huh7 cells infected with pJFH1 replicon with a greater effect on the former compared to the latter. Regions and residues of the helicase bound by the transbodies were determined by phage mimotope searching and multiple alignments as well as homology modeling and molecular docking. The epitope of one transbody (PEN-V(H)H9) encompassed residues 588RLKPTLHGPTPLLYRLGA605 of the domain 3 necessary for helicase activity while another transbody (PEN-VH59) interacted with the areas covering the phenylalanine loop and arginine clamp of the domain 2 which are important for the proper folding of the enzyme as well as nucleic acid substrate binding. Although the molecular mechanisms of the prototypic transbodies on NS3 helicase need further investigation, these transbodies have high potential as novel, safe and mutation tolerable anti-HCV agents.

Cell penetrable humanized-VH/V(H)H that inhibit RNA dependent RNA polymerase (NS5B) of HCV.

NS5B is pivotal RNA dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) of HCV and NS5B function interfering halts the virus infective cycle. This work aimed to produce cell penetrable humanized single domain antibodies (SdAb; VH/V(H)H) that interfere with the RdRp activity. Recombinant NS5BΔ55 of genotype 3a HCV with de novo RNA synthetic activity was produced and used in phage biopanning for selecting phage clones that displayed NS5BΔ55 bound VH/V(H)H from a humanized-camel VH/V(H)H display library. VH/V(H)H from E. coli transfected with four selected phage clones inhibited RdRp activity when tested by ELISA inhibition using 3'di-cytidylate 25 nucleotide directed in vitro RNA synthesis. Deduced amino acid sequences of two clones showed V(H)H hallmark and were designated V(H)H6 and V(H)H24; other clones were conventional VH, designated VH9 and VH13. All VH/V(H)H were linked molecularly to a cell penetrating peptide, penetratin. The cell penetrable VH9, VH13, V(H)H6 and V(H)H24 added to culture of Huh7 cells transfected with JHF-1 RNA of genotype 2a HCV reduced the amounts of RNA intracellularly and in culture medium implying that they inhibited the virus replication. VH/V(H)H mimotopes matched with residues scattered on the polymerase fingers, palm and thumb which were likely juxtaposed to form conformational epitopes. Molecular docking revealed that the antibodies covered the RdRp catalytic groove. The transbodies await further studies for in vivo role in inhibiting HCV replication.

Regulation of CRIg expression and phagocytosis in human macrophages by arachidonate, dexamethasone, and cytokines.

Although the importance of the macrophage complement receptor immunoglobulin (CRIg) in the phagocytosis of complement opsonized bacteria and in inflammation has been established, the regulation of CRIg expression remains undefined. Because cellular activation during inflammation leads to the release of arachidonate, a stimulator of leukocyte function, we sought to determine whether arachidonate regulates CRIg expression. Adding arachidonate to maturing human macrophages and to prematured CRIg(+) macrophages caused a significant decrease in the expression of cell-surface CRIg and CRIg mRNA. This effect was independent of the metabolism of arachidonate via the cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways, because it was not inhibited by the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs indomethacin and nordihydroguaiaretic acid. Studies with specific pharmacological inhibitors of arachidonate-mediated signaling pathways showed that protein kinase C was involved. Administration of dexamethasone to macrophages caused an increase in CRIg expression. Studies with proinflammatory and immunosuppressive cytokines showed that IL-10 increased, but interferon-γ, IL-4, and transforming growth factor-ß1 decreased CRIg expression on macrophages. This down- and up-regulation of CRIg expression was reflected in a decrease and increase, respectively, in the phagocytosis of complement opsonized Candida albicans. These data suggest that a unique inflammatory mediator network regulates CRIg expression and point to a mechanism by which arachidonate and dexamethasone have reciprocal effects on inflammation.

A human single chain transbody specific to matrix protein (M1) interferes with the replication of influenza A virus.

A cell penetrating format of human single chain antibody (HuScFv) specific to matrix protein (M1) of influenza A virus was produced by molecular linking of the gene sequence encoding the HuScFv (huscfv) to a protein transduction domain, i.e., penetratin (PEN) of the Drosophila homeodomain. DNA of a recombinant phagemid vector carrying the huscfv was used as a platform template in a three-step PCR for generating a nucleotide sequence encoding a 16 amino acid PEN peptide. The PEN-HuScFv had negligible cytotoxicity on living MDCK cells. They were readily translocated across the cell membrane and bound to native M1 in the A/H5N1-infected cells as revealed by immunofluorescent confocal microscopy. The PEN-HuScFv, when used to treat the influenza virus infected cells, reduced the number of viruses released from the cells. In conclusion, the cell penetrating M1-specific HuScFv, a transbody, produced in this study affected the influenza A virus life cycle in living mammalian cells. While the molecular mechanisms of the PEN-HuScFv need more investigation, the reagent warrants further testing in animals before developing it into a human immunotherapeutic anti-influenza formula.

Human single chain monoclonal antibody that recognizes matrix protein of heterologous influenza A virus subtypes.

Matrix protein (M1) is predominant and has pivotal role in the influenza A virus replication and assembly. It is therefore an attractive target for antiviral drugs, siRNA studies, and therapeutic antibodies. Nevertheless, therapeutic antibody that interferes with the M1 multiplex function has never been developed. In this study, human single monoclonal antibody fragments (HuScFvs) to M1 were generated. Full length recombinant M1 (rM1) was produced from cDNA prepared from genome of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus, A/H5N1. The rM1 was used as an antigen in phage bio-panning to select phage clones displaying HuScFv from a human antibody phage display library. Several phage clones displaying HuScFv bound to the rM1 and harboring the respective huscfv gene inserts were isolated. RFLP experiments revealed multiple DNA banding patterns which indicated epitope/affinity diversity of the HuScFv. The HuScFv were tested for their binding to native M1 of homologous and heterologous influenza A viruses using ELISA as well as incorporating immunostaining and immunofluorescence studies with infected MDCK cells. One such protein produced from a selected phage clone blocked binding of M1 to viral RNA. The HuScFv in their in vivo functional format, e.g. cell-penetrating molecules, should be developed and tested as a broad spectrum anti-A/influenza.