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Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus (CoV) envelope (E) protein is a transmembrane protein. Several subcellular locations and topological conformations of E protein have been proposed. To identify the correct ones,polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies specific for the amino or the carboxy terminus of E protein,respectively,were generated. E protein was mainly found in the endoplasmic reticulum-Golgi intermediate compartment (ERGIC) of cells transfected with a plasmid encoding E protein or infected with SARS-CoV. No evidence of E protein presence in the plasma membrane was found by using immunofluorescence,immunoelectron microscopy and cell surface protein labeling. In addition,measurement of plasma membrane voltage gated ion channel activity by whole-cell patch clamp suggested that E protein was not present in the plasma membrane. A topological conformation in which SARS-CoV E protein amino terminus is oriented towards the lumen of intracellular membranes and carboxy terminus faces cell cytoplasm is proposed. View Publication

Pharmacokinetic (PK) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) assays are essential to the evaluation of the safety and efficacy of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAb) during drug development. These methods require reagents with a high degree of specificity because low concentrations of therapeutic antibody need to be detected in samples containing high concentrations of endogenous human immunoglobulins. Current assay reagent generation practices are labor-intensive and time-consuming. Moreover,these practices are molecule-specific and so only support one assay for one program at a time. Here,we describe a strategy to generate a unique assay reagent,10C4,that preferentially recognizes a panel of recombinant human mAbs over endogenous human immunoglobulins. This panel-specific" feature enables the reagent to be used in PK and IHC assays for multiple structurally-related therapeutic mAbs. Characterization revealed that the 10C4 epitope is conformational� View Publication

Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common cause of community-acquired pneumonia in the United States and globally. Despite the availability of pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide (PPS) and protein conjugate-based vaccines,the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant pneumococcal strains,serotype (ST) replacement in nonconjugate vaccine strains,and uncertainty as to whether the PPS vaccine that is used in adults protects against pneumonia emphasize the need for continued efforts to understand the nature of protective PPS antibody responses. In this study,we generated mouse monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to a conjugate consisting of the PPS of serotype 8 (PPS8) S. pneumoniae and tetanus toxoid. Thirteen MAbs,including four IgMs that bound to PPS8 and phosphorylcholine (PC) and five IgMs and four IgG1s that bound to PPS8 but not PC,were produced,and their nucleotide sequences,epitope and fine specificity,and efficacy against lethal challenge with ST8 S. pneumoniae were determined. MAbs that bound to PPS8 exhibited gene use that was distinct from that exhibited by MAbs that bound to PC. Only PPS8-binding MAbs that did not bind PC were protective in mice. All 13 MAbs used germ line variable-region heavy (V(H)) and light (V(L)) chain genes,with no evidence of somatic hypermutation. Our data reveal a relationship between PPS specificity and V(H) gene use and MAb efficacy in mice. These findings provide insight into the relationship between antibody molecular structure and function and hold promise for the development of novel surrogates for pneumococcal vaccine efficacy. View Publication

Here,we describe the discovery of a naturally occurring human antibody (Ab),FluA-20,that recognizes a new site of vulnerability on the hemagglutinin (HA) head domain and reacts with most influenza A viruses. Structural characterization of FluA-20 with H1 and H3 head domains revealed a novel epitope in the HA trimer interface,suggesting previously unrecognized dynamic features of the trimeric HA protein. The critical HA residues recognized by FluA-20 remain conserved across most subtypes of influenza A viruses,which explains the Ab's extraordinary breadth. The Ab rapidly disrupted the integrity of HA protein trimers,inhibited cell-to-cell spread of virus in culture,and protected mice against challenge with viruses of H1N1,H3N2,H5N1,or H7N9 subtypes when used as prophylaxis or therapy. The FluA-20 Ab has uncovered an exceedingly conserved protective determinant in the influenza HA head domain trimer interface that is an unexpected new target for anti-influenza therapeutics and vaccines. View Publication

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a medically important human viral pathogen that causes Chikungunya fever accompanied with debilitating and persistent joint pain. Host-elicited or passively-transferred monoclonal antibodies (mAb) are essential mediators of CHIKV clearance. Therefore,this study aimed to generate and characterize a panel of mAbs for their neutralization efficacy against CHIKV infection in a cell-based and murine model. To evaluate their antigenicity and neutralization profile,indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA),an immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and a plaque reduction neutralization test were performed on mAbs of IgM isotype. CHIKV escape mutants against mAb 3E7b neutralization were generated,and reverse genetics techniques were then used to create an infectious CHIKV clone with a single mutation. 3E7b was also administered to neonate mice prior or after CHIKV infection. The survival rate,CHIKV burden in tissues and histopathology of the limb muscles were evaluated. Both IgM 3E7b and 8A2c bind strongly to native CHIKV surface and potently neutralize CHIKV replication. Further analyses of 3E7b binding and neutralization of CHIKV single-mutant clones revealed that N218 of CHIKV E2 protein is a potent neutralizing epitope. In a pre-binding neutralization assay,3E7b blocks CHIKV attachment to permissive cells,possibly by binding to the surface-accessible E2-N218 residue. Prophylactic administration of 3E7b to neonate mice markedly reduced viremia and protected against CHIKV pathogenesis in various mice tissues. Given therapeutically at 4 h post-infection,3E7b conferred 100% survival rate and similarly reduced CHIKV load in most mice tissues except the limb muscles. Collectively,these findings highlight the usefulness of 3E7b for future prophylactic or epitope-based vaccine design. View Publication

The specificity and affinity of antibody-antigen interactions is a fundamental way to achieve reliable biosensing responses. Different proteins involved with dry eye dysfunction: ANXA1,ANXA11,CST4,PRDX5,PLAA and S100A6; were validated as biomarkers. In this work several antibodies were tested for ANXA1,ANXA11 and PRDX5 to select the best candidates for each biomarker. The results were obtained by using Biophotonic Sensing Cells (BICELLs) as an efficient methodology for label-free biosensing and compared with the Enzyme-Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay (ELISA) technique. View Publication

During drug development,measurement of suitable pharmacodynamic biomarkers is key to establishing in vivo drug activity. Binding of monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapeutics to soluble target proteins often results in elevated serum levels of their target antigen,and measuring total (free and bound) concentration of the target antigen can be an important means of demonstrating that the mAb has reached its specific target. However,accurately measuring soluble circulating antigen in preclinical or clinical samples in the presence of a therapeutic mAb presents a bioanalytical challenge. Particularly in the case of low molecular weight and/or multimeric targets,epitopes for capture and detection of the target by reagent antibodies can be obscured by bound therapeutic mAb. Lymphotoxin-alpha (LTα) is a cytokine in the TNF superfamily that has been implicated in the pathophysiology of autoimmune disease,and is a therapeutic target for neutralizing mAb. During preclinical safety studies in cynomolgus macaques,we encountered difficulties in measuring total LTα in serum of dosed animals. When serum LTα trimer was saturated with the anti-LTα mAb,binding of two reagent antibodies,as required for a classic sandwich ELISA,was not feasible,and dissociation methods were also found to be unsuitable. We therefore developed an approach in which excess anti-LTα mAb was added to the in vitro assay system to fully saturate all binding sites,and an anti-idiotypic antibody was used to detect bound therapeutic antibody. Using this method,total LTα could be accurately measured in cynomolgus macaque serum,and was observed to increase with increasing anti-LTα therapeutic mAb dose. Additional in vitro studies demonstrated that the method worked equally well in human serum. This assay strategy will be useful for quantifying total concentrations of other small and/or multimeric target proteins in the presence of a therapeutic antibody. View Publication

We identify the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily 25 (TNFRSF25)/TNFSF15 pair as critical trigger for allergic lung inflammation,which is a cardinal feature of asthma. TNFRSF25 (TNFR25) signals are required to exert T helper cell 2 (Th2) effector function in Th2-polarized CD4 cells and co-stimulate interleukin (IL)-13 production by glycosphingolipid-activated NKT cells. In vivo,antibody blockade of TNFSF15 (TL1A),which is the ligand for TNFR25,inhibits lung inflammation and production of Th2 cytokines such as IL-13,even when administered days after airway antigen exposure. Similarly,blockade of TNFR25 by a dominant-negative (DN) transgene,DN TNFR25,confers resistance to lung inflammation in mice. Allergic lung inflammation-resistant,NKT-deficient mice become susceptible upon adoptive transfer of wild-type NKT cells,but not after transfer of DN TNFR25 transgenic NKT cells. The TNFR25/TL1A pair appears to provide an early signal for Th2 cytokine production in the lung,and therefore may be a drug target in attempts to attenuate lung inflammation in asthmatics. View Publication

In February 2013,zoonotic transmission of a novel influenza A virus of the H7N9 subtype was reported in China. Although at present no sustained human-to-human transmission has been reported,a pandemic outbreak of this H7N9 virus is feared. Since neutralizing antibodies to the hemagglutinin (HA) globular head domain of the virus are virtually absent in the human population,there is interest in identifying other correlates of protection,such as cross-reactive CD8(+) T cells (cytotoxic T lymphocytes [CTLs]) elicited during seasonal influenza A virus infections. These virus-specific CD8(+) T cells are known to recognize conserved internal proteins of influenza A viruses predominantly,but it is unknown to what extent they cross-react with the newly emerging H7N9 virus. Here,we assessed the cross-reactivity of seasonal H3N2 and H1N1 and pandemic H1N1 influenza A virus-specific polyclonal CD8(+) T cells,obtained from HLA-typed study subjects,with the novel H7N9 virus. The cross-reactivity of CD8(+) T cells to H7N9 variants of known influenza A virus epitopes and H7N9 virus-infected cells was determined by their gamma interferon (IFN-γ) response and lytic activity. It was concluded that,apart from recognition of individual H7N9 variant epitopes,CD8(+) T cells to seasonal influenza viruses display considerable cross-reactivity with the novel H7N9 virus. The presence of these cross-reactive CD8(+) T cells may afford some protection against infection with the new virus. View Publication

Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) is a pleiotropic cytokine that exerts anti-tumor and anti-osteoclastogenic effects. Although transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of IFN-γ is well understood,subsequent modifications of secreted IFN-γ are not fully elucidated. Previous research indicates that some cancer cells escape immune surveillance and metastasize into bone tissue by inducing osteoclastic bone resorption. Peptidases of the a-disintegrin and metalloproteinase (ADAM) family are implicated in cancer cell proliferation and tumor progression. We hypothesized that the ADAM enzymes expressed by cancer cells degrades IFN-γ and attenuates IFN-γ-mediated anti-tumorigenic and anti-osteoclastogenic effects. Recombinant ADAM17 degraded IFN-γ into small fragments. The addition of ADAM17 to the culture supernatant of stimulated mouse splenocytes decreased IFN-γ concentration. However,ADAM17 inhibition in the stimulated mouse T-cells prevented IFN-γ degradation. ADAM17-expressing human breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-453 also degraded recombinant IFN-γ,but this was attenuated by ADAM17 inhibition. Degraded IFN-γ lost the functionality including the inhibititory effect on osteoclastogenesis. This is the first study to demonstrate the extracellular proteolytic degradation of IFN-γ by ADAM17. These results suggest that ADAM17-mediated degradation of IFN-γ may block the anti-tumorigenic and anti-osteoclastogenic effects of IFN-γ. ADAM17 inhibition may be useful for the treatment of attenuated cancer immune surveillance and/or bone metastases. View Publication

MUC16 is a well-validated cell surface marker for serous adenocarcinomas of the ovary and other gynecologic malignancies that is distinguished by highly repetitive sequences (mucin repeats") in the extracellular domain (ECD). We produced and compared two monoclonal antibodies: one (11D10) recognizing a unique� View Publication

The screening for antigen-specific hybridoma cells with adequate production rates is still a time-,labour- and money-consuming procedure. A reduction in cell culture testing by specifically selecting those fused cells that produce antibody could therefore make hybridoma technology more attractive,even for small research groups or for newly discovered proteins at an early stage of research. Additional problems,such as the requirement to produce sufficient amounts of the unknown protein at a purity that allows specific immunisation of mice and testing of the resulting hybridoma clones,also need to be overcome. Here we present a new strategy to isolate rapidly and efficiently monoclonal antibodies against new proteins,for which only sequence information at the DNA level is known. The strategy consists of fusion of the protein to a hexa-His-tag to allow easy purification,production in yeast and insect cells to reduce background immunisation with host cell proteins and the selection of IgG-producing hybridoma cells by flow-cytometric cell sorting using the affinity matrix secretion assay technique. ?? 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. View Publication