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Discover how PEPperPRINT Peptide Microarray products have been used in different fields of research.

Active vaccination against interleukin-5 as long-term treatment for insect-bite hypersensitivity in horses

Fettelschoss-Gabriel, Antonia; Fettelschoss, Victoria; Olomski, Florian; Birkmann, Katharina; Thoms, Franziska; Bühler, Maya; Kummer, Martin; Zeltins, Andris; Kündig, Thomas M.; Bachmann, Martin F.
Allergy.
Mar 2019
Background Insect-bite hypersensitivity (IBH) in horses is a chronic allergic dermatitis caused by insect bites. Horses suffer from pruritic skin lesions, caused by type-I/type-IV allergic reactions accompanied by prominent eosinophil infiltration into the skin. Interleukin-5 (IL-5) is the key cytokine for eosinophils and we have previously shown that targeting IL-5 by vaccination reduces disease symptoms in horses. Objective Here, we analyzed the potential for long-term therapy by assessing a second follow-up year of the previously published study. Methods The vaccine consisted of equine IL-5 (eIL-5) covalently linked to a cucumber mosaic virus-like particle (VLP) containing a universal T cell epitope (CuMVTT) using a semi-crossover design to follow vaccinated horses during a second treatment season. Thirty Icelandic horses were immunized with 300 μg of eIL-5-CuMVTT without adjuvant. Results The vaccine was well tolerated and did not reveal any safety concerns throughout the study. Upon vaccination, all horses developed reversible anti-eIL-5 auto-antibody titers. The mean course of eosinophil levels was reduced compared to placebo treatment leading to significant reduction of clinical lesion scores. Horses in their second vaccination year showed a more pronounced improvement of disease symptoms when compared to first treatment year, most likely due to more stable antibody titers induced by a single booster injection. Hence, responses could be maintained over two seasons and the horses remained protected against disease symptoms. Conclusion Yearly vaccination against IL-5 may be a long-term solution for the treatment of IBH and other eosinophil-mediated diseases in horses and other species including humans.

Patent infections with soil-transmitted helminths and Schistosoma mansoni are not associated with increased prevalence of antibodies to the Onchocerca volvulus peptide epitopes OvMP-1 and OvMP-23

Vlaminck, Johnny; Lagatie, Ole; Verheyen, Ann; Dana, Daniel; Van Dorst, Bieke; Mekonnen, Zeleke; Levecke, Bruno; Stuyver, Lieven J.
Parasites Vectors.
Jan 2019
Background Ov16 serology is considered a reference method for Onchocerca volvulus epidemiological mapping. Given the suboptimal sensitivity of this test and the fact that seroconversion takes more than a year after infection, additional serological tests might be needed to guide onchocerciasis elimination programmes. Recently, two linear epitopes encoded in OvMP-1 and OvMP-23 peptides were introduced as serological markers, but the observed antibody cross-reactivity in samples originating from Onchocerca volvulus non-endemic areas required further investigation. Methods We evaluated both peptide markers in an O. volvulus hypo-endemic setting in Jimma Town, Ethiopia using peptide ELISA. For all individuals (n = 303), the infection status with soil-transmitted helminths and Schistosoma mansoni was known. Results We found that 11 (3.6%) individuals were positive for anti-Ov16 IgG4 antibodies, while 34 (11.2%) and 15 (5.0%) individuals were positive for OvMP-1 and OvMP-23, respectively. Out of the 34 OvMP-1 positive samples, 33 were negative on the Ov16 IgG4 ELISA. Similarly, out of the 15 OvMP-23 positive samples, 14 scored negative on this reference method. No difference in seroprevalence for all three markers could be observed between uninfected individuals and individuals infected with different soil-transmitted helminths or S. mansoni. Moreover, the intensity of the response to OvMP-1, OvMP-23 or Ov16 was not significantly stronger in individuals carrying patent STH or S. mansoni infections, nor was there any correlation between the intensities of the responses to the three different antigens. Conclusions This study demonstrates that a patent infection with either soil-transmitted helminths or S. mansoni does not lead to increased antibody recognition of both OvMP-1 and OvMP23.

An oligoclonal combination of human monoclonal antibodies able to neutralize tetanus toxin in vivo

Aliprandini, Eduardo; Takata, Daniela Yumi; Lepique, Ana; Kalil, Jorge; Boscardin, Silvia Beatriz; Moro, Ana Maria
Toxicon: X.
Jan 2019
The use of antibody-based therapy to treat a variety of diseases and conditions is well documented. The use of antibodies as an antidote to treat tetanus infections was one of the first examples of immunotherapy and remains the standard of care for cases involving potential infections. Plasma-derived immunoglobulins obtained from human or horse pose risks of infection from undetectable emergent viruses or may cause anaphylaxis. Further, there is a lack of consistency between lots. In the search for new formulations, we obtained a series of clonally related human monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) derived from B cells sorted from donors that presented anti-tetanus neutralizing titers. Donors were revaccinated prior to blood collection. Different strategies were used for single-cell sorting, since it was challenging to identify cells at a very low frequency: memory B cell sorting using fluorescent-labeled tetanus toxoid and toxin as baits, and plasmablast sorting done shortly after revaccination. Screening of the recombinant mAbs with the whole tetanus toxin allowed us to select candidates with therapeutic potential, since mAbs to different domains can contribute additively to the neutralizing effect. Because of selective binding to different domains, we tested mAbs individually, or in mixtures of two or three, in the neutralizing in vivo assay specified by Pharmacopeia for the determination of polyclonal hyperimmune sera potency. An oligoclonal mixture of three human mAbs completely neutralized the toxin injected in the animals, signaling an important step for clinical mAb development.

Molecular mimicry, genetic homology, and gene sharing proteomic “molecular fingerprints” using an EBV (Epstein-Barr virus)-derived microarray as a potential diagnostic method in autoimmune disease

Dreyfus, David H.; Farina, Antonella; Farina, Giuseppina Alessandra
Immunol Res.
Dec 2018
EBV (Epstein-Barr Virus) and other human DNA viruses are associated with autoimmune syndromes in epidemiologic studies. In this work, immunoglobulin G response to EBV-encoded proteins which share regions with human immune response proteins from the human host including ZEBRA (BZLF-1 encoded protein), BALF-2 recombinase expressed primarily during the viral lytic replication cycle, and EBNA-1 (Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigen) expressed during the viral latency cycle respectively were characterized using a laser-printed micro-array (PEPperprint.com). IgG response to conserved “A/T hooks” in EBV-encoded proteins such as EBNA-1 and the BALF-2 recombinase related to host DNA-binding proteins including RAG-1 recombinase and histones, and EBV-encoded virokines such as the IL-10 homologue BCRF-1 suggest further directions for clinical research. The author suggests that proteomic “molecular fingerprints” of the immune response to viral proteins shared with human immune response genes are potentially useful in early diagnosis and monitoring of autoantibody production and response to therapy in EBV-related autoimmune syndromes.

Regulatory T-cell deficiency leads to pathogenic bullous pemphigoid antigen 230 autoantibody and autoimmune bullous disease

Haeberle, Stefanie; Wei, Xiaoying; Bieber, Katja; Goletz, Stephanie; Ludwig, Ralf J.; Schmidt, Enno; Enk, Alexander H.; Hadaschik, Eva N.
Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
Dec 2018
Background Autoimmune bullous diseases/dermatoses (AIBDs) are severe autoantibody-mediated skin diseases. The pathogenic relevance of autoreactive CD4+ T cells for the induction of autoantibody production remains to be fully evaluated. Scurfy mice lack functional regulatory T (Treg) cells, experience spontaneous activation of autoreactive CD4+ T cells, and display severe erosive skin lesions suggestive of AIBDs. Objective We sought to determine whether AIBDs develop in Treg cell–deficient scurfy mice. Methods Histology, indirect immunofluorescence (IF) microscopy, direct IF, and ELISA were used to prove the presence of AIBDs in scurfy mice. Monoclonal autoantibodies from sera of scurfy mice were screened by using indirect IF on murine skin, and immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry were used for target antigen identification, followed by confirmation in modified human embryonic kidney cells and murine keratinocytes. Pathogenicity was determined by injecting the autoantibody into neonatal mice and transferring scurfy CD4+ T cells into nu/nu mice. Results Autoantibodies against different known autoantigens of AIBDs spontaneously develop in scurfy mice. Histology reveals subepidermal blisters, and direct IF of skin of scurfy mice shows a predominant linear staining pattern. The mAb 20B12 shows a linear staining pattern in indirect IF, recognizes the murine hemidesmosomal protein bullous pemphigoid antigen 230 (BP230) as the target antigen, and cross-reacts with human BP230. Purified mAb 20B12 induces subepidermal blisters in neonatal mice. Transfer of scurfy CD4+ T cells is sufficient to induce antibodies with reactivity to AIBD autoantigens and subepidermal blisters in the skin of recipient T cell–deficient nu/nu mice. Conclusion We show that the absence of Treg cells leads to AIBDs by pathogenic autoantibodies targeting BP230.

Linear epitopes in Onchocerca volvulus vaccine candidate proteins and excretory-secretory proteins

Lagatie, Ole; Verheyen, Ann; Van Dorst, Bieke; Batsa Debrah, Linda; Debrah, Alex; Stuyver, Lieven J.
Parasite Immunol.
Nov 2018
In our previous study, a proteome-wide screen was conducted to identify linear epitopes in this parasite’s proteome, resulting in the discovery of three immunodominant motifs. Here, we investigated whether such antigenic peptides were found in proteins that were already known as vaccine candidates and excretome/secretome proteins for Onchocerca volvulus This approach led to the identification of 71 immunoreactive stretches in 46 proteins. A deep-dive into the immunoreactivity profiles of eight vaccine candidates that were chosen as most promising candidates for further development (Ov-CPI-2, Ov-ALT-1, Ov-RAL-2, Ov-ASP-1, Ov-103, Ov-RBP-1, Ov-CHI-1, and Ov-B20), resulted in the identification of a poly-glutamine stretch in Ov-RAL-2 that has properties for use as a serodiagnostic marker for O. volvulus infection. A peptide ELISA was developed, and the performance of this assay was evaluated. Based on this assessment, it was found that this assay has a sensitivity of 75.0% [95% CI: 64.9%-83.5%] and a specificity of 98.5% [95% CI: 94.6%-99.8%]. Furthermore, 8.7% reactivity in Asian parasite-infected individuals (8 out of 92) was observed. Besides this identification of a linear epitope marker, the information on the presence of linear epitopes in vaccine candidate proteins might be useful in the study of vaccines for river blindness.

Potential therapeutic antibodies targeting specific adiponectin isoforms in rheumatoid arthritis

Lee, Yeon-Ah; Hahm, Dae-Hyun; Kim, Jung Yeon; Sur, Bonjun; Lee, Hyun Min; Ryu, Chun Jeih; Yang, Hyung-In; Kim, Kyoung Soo
Arthritis Res Ther.
Oct 2018
Background Different adiponectin isoforms appear to be differentially involved in the pathogenesis of various diseases. The purpose of this study was to generate monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) specific to different adiponectin isoforms and investigate whether these mAbs have potential as therapeutic agents for such diseases. Methods Hybridoma cells producing monoclonal antibodies were generated and screened using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blotting for the production of mAbs recognizing human adiponectin isoforms. Results The mAb from hybridoma clone KH7–41 recognized both the middle molecular weight (MMW) (hexamer) and low molecular weight (LMW) (trimer) isoforms of adiponectin in human serum, whereas the KH7–33 mAb detected only MMW (hexamer) adiponectin. The KH4–8 clone recognized both the high molecular weight (HMW) (multimer) and MMW adiponectin isoforms. However, in mouse and rat sera, the abovementioned antibodies recognized only the MMW isomer. These mAbs also recognized adiponectin in various human tissues, such as lung, kidney, and adipose tissues, although the three mAbs had different staining intensities. The mAb from clone KH4–8 effectively inhibited increases in interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-8 expression in recombinant adiponectin-stimulated human osteoblasts and human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Also, the mAbs KH7–33 and KH4–8 significantly ameliorated rheumatic symptoms in a collagen-induced arthritis mouse model. This result suggests that these mAb treatments may ameliorate adiponectin-mediated inflammatory response. Conclusions mAbs against human adiponectin isomers can potentially be developed as therapeutic antibodies to target specific detrimental isoforms of adiponectin while maintaining the functions of beneficial isoforms.

Cytotoxic anti-circumsporozoite antibodies target malaria sporozoites in the host skin

Aliprandini, Eduardo; Tavares, Joana; Panatieri, Raquel Hoffmann; Thiberge, Sabine; Yamamoto, Marcio Massao; Silvie, Olivier; Ishino, Tomoko; Yuda, Masao; Dartevelle, Sylvie; Traincard, François; Boscardin, Silvia Beatriz; Amino, Rogerio
Nat Microbiol.
Oct 2018
The circumsporozoite protein (CSP) is the major surface protein of malaria sporozoites (SPZs), the motile and invasive parasite stage inoculated in the host skin by infected mosquitoes. Antibodies against the central CSP repeats of different plasmodial species are known to block SPZ infectivity, but the precise mechanism by which these effectors operate is not completely understood. Here, using a rodent Plasmodium yoelii malaria model, we show that sterile protection mediated by anti-P. yoelii CSP humoral immunity depends on the parasite inoculation into the host skin, where antibodies inhibit motility and kill P. yoelii SPZs via a characteristic ‘dotty death’ phenotype. Passive transfer of an anti-repeat monoclonal antibody (mAb) recapitulates the skin inoculation-dependent protection, in a complement- and Fc receptor γ-independent manner. This purified mAb also decreases motility and, notably, induces the dotty death of P. yoelii SPZs in vitro. Cytotoxicity is species-transcendent since cognate anti-CSP repeat mAbs also kill Plasmodium berghei and Plasmodium falciparum SPZs. mAb cytotoxicity requires the actomyosin motor-dependent translocation and stripping of the protective CSP surface coat, rendering the parasite membrane susceptible to the SPZ pore-forming-like protein secreted to wound and traverse the host cell membrane. The loss of SPZ fitness caused by anti-P. yoelii CSP repeat antibodies is thus a dynamic process initiated in the host skin where SPZs either stop moving, or migrate and traverse cells to progress through the host tissues at the eventual expense of their own life.

Generation and characterization of monoclonal antibodies that recognize human and murine supervillin protein isoforms

Smith, Tara C.; Saul, Richard G.; Barton, Elisabeth R.; Luna, Elizabeth J.
PLoS ONE.
Oct 2018
Supervillin isoforms have been implicated in cell proliferation, actin filament-based motile processes, vesicle trafficking, and signal transduction. However, an understanding of the roles of these proteins in cancer metastasis and physiological processes has been limited by the difficulty of obtaining specific antibodies against these highly conserved membrane-associated proteins. To facilitate research into the biological functions of supervillin, monoclonal antibodies were generated against the bacterially expressed human supervillin N-terminus. Two chimeric monoclonal antibodies with rabbit Fc domains (clones 1E2/CPTC-SVIL-1; 4A8/CPTC-SVIL-2) and two mouse monoclonal antibodies (clones 5A8/CPTC-SVIL-3; 5G3/CPTC-SVIL-4) were characterized with respect to their binding sites, affinities, and for efficacy in immunoblotting, immunoprecipitation, immunofluorescence microscopy and immunohistochemical staining. Two antibodies (1E2, 5G3) recognize a sequence found only in primate supervillins, whereas the other two antibodies (4A8, 5A8) are specific for a more broadly conserved conformational epitope(s). All antibodies function in immunoblotting, immunoprecipitation and in immunofluorescence microscopy under the fixation conditions identified here. We also show that the 5A8 antibody works on immunohistological sections. These antibodies should provide useful tools for the study of mammalian supervillins.

Interaction of the Warsaw breakage syndrome DNA helicase DDX11 with the replication fork-protection factor Timeless promotes sister chromatid cohesion

Cortone, Giuseppe; Zheng, Ge; Pensieri, Pasquale; Chiappetta, Viviana; Tatè, Rosarita; Malacaria, Eva; Pichierri, Pietro; Yu, Hongtao; Pisani, Francesca M.
PLoS Genet.
Oct 2018
Establishment of sister chromatid cohesion is coupled to DNA replication, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are incompletely understood. DDX11 (also named ChlR1) is a super-family 2 Fe-S cluster-containing DNA helicase implicated in Warsaw breakage syndrome (WABS). Herein, we examined the role of DDX11 in cohesion establishment in human cells. We demonstrated that DDX11 interacts with Timeless, a component of the replication fork-protection complex, through a conserved peptide motif. The DDX11-Timeless interaction is critical for sister chromatid cohesion in interphase and mitosis. Immunofluorescence studies further revealed that cohesin association with chromatin requires DDX11. Finally, we demonstrated that DDX11 localises at nascent DNA by SIRF analysis. Moreover, we found that DDX11 promotes cohesin binding to the DNA replication forks in concert with Timeless and that recombinant purified cohesin interacts with DDX11 in vitro. Collectively, our results establish a critical role for the DDX11-Timeless interaction in coordinating DNA replication with sister chromatid cohesion, and have important implications for understanding the molecular basis of WABS.

The immunome of soy bean allergy: Comprehensive identification and characterization of epitopes

Kern, Karolin; Havenith, Heide; Delaroque, Nicolas; Rautenberger, Paul; Lehmann, Jörg; Fischer, Markus; Spiegel, Holger; Schillberg, Stefan; Ehrentreich-Foerster, Eva; Aurich, Stefanie; Treudler, Regina; Szardenings, Michael
Clin Exp Allergy.
Sep 2018
Background The precise mapping of multiple antibody epitopes recognized by patients’ sera allows a more detailed and differentiated understanding of immunological diseases. It may lead to the development of novel therapies and diagnostic tools. Objective Mapping soy bean specific epitopes relevant for soy bean allergy patients and persons sensitized to soy bean, and analysis of their IgE/IgG binding spectrum. Methods Identification of epitopes using sera, applying an optimized peptide phage display library followed by next-generation sequencing, specially designed in silico data analysis and subsequent peptide microarray analysis. Results We were able to identify more than 400 potential epitope motifs in soy bean proteins. More than 60% of them have not yet been described as potential epitopes. Eighty-three peptides, representing the 42 most frequently found epitope candidates, were validated by microarray analysis using 50 sera from people who have been tested positive in skin prick test (SPT). Of these peptides, 56 were bound by antibodies, 55 by serum IgE, 43 by serum IgG and 30 by both. Person-specific epitope patterns were found for each individual and protein. Conclusions For individuals with clinical symptoms, epitope resolved analyses reveal a high prevalence of IgE binding to a few soy bean specific epitopes. Evaluation of individual immune profiles of patients with soy bean sensitization allows the identification of peptides that do facilitate studying individual IgE/IgG epitope binding patterns. This enables discrimination of sensitization from disease, such assay test has the potential to replace SPT assays

Combinatorial Synthesis of Macromolecular Arrays by Microchannel Cantilever Spotting (µCS)

Atwater, Jordyn; Mattes, Daniela S.; Streit, Bettina; von Bojničić-Kninski, Clemens; Loeffler, Felix F.; Breitling, Frank; Fuchs, Harald; Hirtz, Michael
Adv. Mater..
Aug 2018
Surface-bound microarrays of multiple oligo- and macromolecules (e.g., peptides, DNA) offer versatile options in biomedical applications like drug screening, DNA analysis, or medical diagnostics. Combinatorial syntheses of these molecules in situ can save significant resources in regard to processing time and material use. Furthermore, high feature densities are needed to enable high-throughput and low sample volumes as generally regarded in combinatorial chemistry. Here, a scanning-probe-lithography-based approach for the combinatorial in situ synthesis of macromolecules is presented in microarray format. Feature sizes below 40 µm allow for the creation of high-density arrays with feature densities of 62 500 features per cm2. To demonstrate feasibility of this approach for biomedical applications, a multiplexed array of functional protein tags (HA- and FLAG-tag) is synthesized, and selective binding of respective epitope recognizing antibodies is shown. This approach uses only small amounts of base chemicals for synthesis and can be further parallelized, therefore, opening up a route to flexible, highly dense, and cost-effective microarrays.

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