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

A new reliable and highly specific monoclonal antibody to detect the C‐terminal region of silencer of cytokine signaling 1

Weissinger, Stephanie E.; Zahn, Malena; Marienfeld, Ralf; Tessmer, Claudia; Moldenhauer, Gerhard; Möller, Peter
Eur J Haematol.
Mar 2021
Introduction SOCS1, a negative regulator of JAK/STAT signaling, is among the most frequently mutated genes in DLBCL and classical Hodgkin lymphoma. The C-terminal SOCS box domain, mediating the degradation of phospho-JAK2, is often affected or even lacking. The analysis of such variants is hampered by the lack of a SOCS1-specific monoclonal antibody recognizing the C-terminus of SOCS1. As this C-terminus is often lost or mutated in B-cell lymphomas, staining with amino-terminal targeting antibodies in a lymphoma setting might be misleading. Methods BALB/c mice were immunized with a truncated SOCS1 C-terminal protein. The supernatant of generated hybridoma cells was screened by ELISA and, immunohistochemically, on formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tonsil. After antibody purification by affinity chromatography, epitope mapping and cross-reactivity check followed via substitution scans. SOCS1 protein expression was investigated on cell cultures and cytoblocks of SOCS1WT stably transfected HEK293T cells, lymphoma cell lines and lymphoid tissues. Results Procedures resulted in one monoclonal IgG1 anti-SOCS1 antibody, 424C, that recognizes and strongly binds to the C-terminal region of SOCS1 in immunoblot and immunohistochemistry analyses. Conclusion This new anti-SOCS1 monoclonal antibody is a valuable tool to detect SOCS1 expression dependent on an existing SOCS1 box and, therefore, indicating a full-length SOCS1 protein.

Identification of a Zika NS2B Epitope for Which Absence of IgG Response Is Associated with Severe Neurological Symptoms and the Design of a Biomarker Capable of Discriminatory Diagnostics Between Severe and Non4 Severe Clinical Phenotypes

Loeffler, Felix; Viana, Isabelle F. T.; Fischer, Nico; Coêlho, Danilo F.; Santos, Carolina; Purificacao Jr, Antonio; Araujo, Catarina; Leite, Bruno; Durães-Carvalho, Ricardo; Magalhaes, Thereza; Morais, Clarice; Tenório Cordeiro, Marli; Lins, Roberto; T. A. Marques, Ernesto; Jaenisch, Thomas
In this manuscript we describe the engineering of a biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of Zika-associated neurological disease. Although the causal association between congenital Zika virus (ZIKV) infection and neurological manifestations has been well documented in the recent years, biomarkers for proper diagnostic and disease outcome still remain to be defined. Combining high-density peptide array and multivariate analysis, we have identified an ZIKV epitope that is associated to a lack of IgG antibody response in patients with severe neurological symptoms. An engineered chimera was developed to discriminate between mild and severe clinical forms of the disease.

Scoping review of the applications of peptide microarrays on the fight against human infections

Vengesai, Arthur; Kasambala, Maritha; Mutandadzi, Hamlet; Mduluza-Jokonya, Tariro L.; Mduluza, Takafira; Naicker, Thajasvarie
Abstract Introduction This scoping review explores the use of peptide microarrays in the fight against infectious diseases. The research domains explored included the use of peptide microarrays in the mapping of linear B-cell and T cell epitopes, antimicrobial peptide discovery, immunosignature characterisation and disease immunodiagnostics. This review also provides a short overview of peptide microarray synthesis.   Methods Electronic databases were systematically searched to identify relevant studies. The review was conducted using the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for scoping reviews and data charting was performed using a predefined form. The results were reported by narrative synthesis in line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines. Results Eighty-six articles from 100 studies were included in the final data charting process. The majority (93%) of the articles were published during 2010–2020 and were mostly from Europe (44%) and North America (34 %). The findings were from the investigation of viral (44%), bacterial (30%), parasitic (25%) and fungal (2%) infections. Out of the serological studies, IgG was the most reported antibody type followed by IgM. The largest portion of the studies (78%) were related to mapping B-cell linear epitopes, 10% were on diagnostics, 9% reported on immunosignature characterisation and 6% reported on viral and bacterial cell binding assays. Two studies reported on T-cell epitope profiling. Conclusion The most important application of peptide microarrays was found to be B-cell epitope mapping or antibody profiling to identify diagnostic and vaccine targets. Immunosignatures identified by random peptide microarrays were found to be applied in the diagnosis of infections and interrogation of vaccine responses. The analysis of the interactions of random peptide microarrays with bacterial and viral cells using binding assays enabled the identification of antimicrobial peptides. Peptide microarray arrays were also used for T-cell linear epitope mapping which may provide more information for the design of peptide-based vaccines and for the development of diagnostic reagents.

Epitope Mapping of Exposed Tegument and Alimentary Tract Proteins Identifies Putative Antigenic Targets of the Attenuated Schistosome Vaccine

Farias, Leonardo P.; Vance, Gillian M.; Coulson, Patricia S.; Vitoriano-Souza, Juliana; Neto, Almiro Pires da Silva; Wangwiwatsin, Arporn; Neves, Leandro Xavier; Castro-Borges, William; McNicholas, Stuart; Wilson, Keith S.; Leite, Luciana C. C.; Wilson, R. Alan
amjor.
Mar 2021
The radiation-attenuated cercarial vaccine remains the gold standard for the induction of protective immunity against Schistosoma mansoni. Furthermore, the protection can be passively transferred to naïve recipient mice from multiply vaccinated donors, especially IFNgR KO mice. We have used such sera versus day 28 infection serum, to screen peptide arrays and identify likely epitopes that mediate the protection. The arrays encompassed 56 secreted or exposed proteins from the alimentary tract and tegument, the principal interfaces with the host bloodstream. The proteins were printed onto glass slides as overlapping 15mer peptides, reacted with primary and secondary antibodies, and reactive regions detected using an Agilent array scanner. Pep Slide Analyser software provided a numerical value above background for each peptide from which an aggregate score could be derived for a putative epitope. The reactive regions of 26 proteins were mapped onto crystal structures using the CCP4 molecular graphics, to aid selection of peptides with the greatest accessibility and reactivity, prioritising vaccine over infection serum. A further eight MEG proteins were mapped to regions conserved between family members. The result is a list of priority peptides from 44 proteins for further investigation in multiepitope vaccine constructs and as targets of monoclonal antibodies.

Comparison of Monoclonal Gammopathies Linked to Poliovirus or Coxsackievirus vs. Other Infectious Pathogens

Harb, Jean; Mennesson, Nicolas; Lepetit, Cassandra; Fourny, Maeva; Louvois, Margaux; Bosseboeuf, Adrien; Allain-Maillet, Sophie; Decaux, Olivier; Moreau, Caroline; Tallet, Anne; Piver, Eric; Moreau, Philippe; Salle, Valéry; Bigot-Corbel, Edith; Hermouet, Sylvie
Chronic stimulation by infectious pathogens or self-antigen glucosylsphingosine (GlcSph) can lead to monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) and multiple myeloma (MM). Novel assays such as the multiplex infectious antigen microarray (MIAA) and GlcSph assays, permit identification of targets for >60% purified monoclonal immunoglobulins (Igs). Searching for additional targets, we selected 28 purified monoclonal Igs whose antigen was not represented on the MIAA and GlcSph assays; their specificity of recognition was then analyzed using microarrays consisting of 3760 B-cell epitopes from 196 pathogens. The peptide sequences PALTAVETG and PALTAAETG of the VP1 coat proteins of human poliovirus 1/3 and coxsackievirus B1/B3, respectively, were specifically recognized by 6/28 monoclonal Igs. Re-analysis of patient cohorts showed that purified monoclonal Igs from 10/155 MGUS/SM (6.5%) and 3/147 MM (2.0%) bound to the PALTAVETG or PALTAAETG epitopes. Altogether, PALTAV/AETG-initiated MGUS are not rare and few seem to evolve toward myeloma.

Major antigen and paramyosin proteins as candidate biomarkers for serodiagnosis of canine infection by zoonotic Onchocerca lupi

Latrofa, Maria Stefania; Palmisano, Giuseppe; Annoscia, Giada; Pierri, Ciro Leonardo; Chandrashekar, Ramaswamy; Otranto, Domenico
PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases.
Feb 2021
Onchocerca lupi (Spirurida: Onchocercidae) is a filarial worm parasitizing domestic carnivores and humans. Adult nematodes usually localize beneath in the sclera or in the ocular retrobulbar of infected animals, whilst microfilariae are found in the skin. Therefore, diagnosis of O. lupi is achieved by microscopic and/or molecular detection of microfilariae from skin biopsy and/or surgical removal of adults from ocular tissues of infected hosts. An urgent non-invasive diagnostic tool for the diagnosis of O. lupi in dog is mandatory. In this study, an immunoproteomic analyses was performed using a combination of immunoblotting and mass spectrometry techniques. Onchocerca lupi major antigen (Ol-MJA) and paramyosin (Ol-PARA) proteins were identified as potential biomarkers for serodiagnosis. Linear epitopes were herein scanned for both proteins using high-density peptide microarray. Sera collected from dog infected with O. lupi and healthy animal controls led to the identification of 11 immunodominant antigenic peptides (n = 7 for Ol-MJA; n = 4 for Ol-PARA). These peptides were validated using sera of dogs uniquely infected with the most important filarioids infesting dogs either zoonotic (Dirofilaria repens, Dirofilaria immitis) or not (Acanthocheilonema reconditum and Cercopithifilaria bainae). Overall, six antigenic peptides, three for Ol-MJA and for Ol-PARA, respectively, were selected as potential antigens for the serological detection of canine O. lupi infection. The molecular and proteomic dataset herein reported should provide a useful resource for studies on O. lupi toward supporting the development of new interventions (drugs, vaccines and diagnostics) against canine onchocercosis.

FUSION PROTEIN CONSTRUCTSCOMPRISING ANTI-C3d ANTIBODY AND FACTOR H

Curtis, Michael Steven; Storek, Michael; Violette, Shelia Marie; Kalled, Susan L.; Fahnoe, Kelly C.; Huang, Cheng Ran; Stark, Ellen Garber; Taylor, Frederick Robbins; Caravella, Justin Andrew; Holers, Vernon Michael; Gambel, Phillip
Jan 2021
Provided herein are fusion protein constructs that can bind a complement-associated antigen, comprising a targeting moiety and a complement modulator protein, or a fragment thereof or a variant thereof. The targeting moiety is an antibody or an antigen binding fragment thereof, in some examples. Further provided are methods of using the fusion protein constructs, for example, in treating complement mediation conditions.

SARS-CoV-2 Epitope Mapping on Microarrays Highlights Strong Immune-Response to N Protein Region

Musicò, Angelo; Frigerio, Roberto; Mussida, Alessandro; Barzon, Luisa; Sinigaglia, Alessandro; Riccetti, Silvia; Gobbi, Federico; Piubelli, Chiara; Bergamaschi, Greta; Chiari, Marcella; Gori, Alessandro; Cretich, Marina
Vaccines.
Jan 2021
A workflow for rapid SARS-CoV-2 epitope discovery on peptide microarrays is herein reported. The process started with a proteome-wide screening of immunoreactivity based on the use of a high-density microarray followed by a refinement and validation phase on a restricted panel of probes using microarrays with tailored peptide immobilization through a click-based strategy. Progressively larger, independent cohorts of Covid-19 positive sera were tested in the refinement processes, leading to the identification of immunodominant regions on SARS-CoV-2 spike (S), nucleocapsid (N) protein and Orf1ab polyprotein. A summary study testing 50 serum samples highlighted an epitope of the N protein (region 155–71) providing good diagnostic performance in discriminating Covid-19 positive vs. healthy individuals. Using this epitope, 92% sensitivity and 100% specificity were reached for IgG detection in Covid-19 samples, and no cross-reactivity with common cold coronaviruses was detected. Likewise, IgM immunoreactivity in samples collected within the first month after symptoms onset showed discrimination ability. Overall, epitope 155–171 from N protein represents a promising candidate for further development and rapid implementation in serological tests.

Marker Sequences for Diagnosing and Stratifying Systemic Sclerosis Patients

Budde, Petra
Jan 2021
The present invention relates to methods for identifying markers for systemic sclerosis (also scleroderma; SSc) and to the markers identified with the aid of this method, which can differentiate between SSc and other autoimmune diseases on the one hand and between different SSc subgroups on the other hand. The invention also relates to panels, diagnostic devices and test kits which comprise these markers, and to the use and application thereof, for example for the diagnosis, prognosis and therapy control of SSc. The invention also relates to methods for screening and for validating active substances for use in SSc.

Antibody Binding Selectivity: Alternative Sets of Antigen Residues Entail High-Affinity Recognition

Nominé, Yves; Choulier, Laurence; Travé, Gilles; Vernet, Thierry; Altschuh, Danièle
PLoS ONE.
Dec 2015
Understanding the relationship between protein sequence and molecular recognition selectivity remains a major challenge. The antibody fragment scFv1F4 recognizes with sub nM affinity a decapeptide (sequence 6TAMFQDPQER15) derived from the N-terminal end of human papilloma virus E6 oncoprotein. Using this decapeptide as antigen, we had previously shown that only the wild type amino-acid or conservative replacements were allowed at positions 9 to 12 and 15 of the peptide, indicating a strong binding selectivity. Nevertheless phenylalanine (F) was equally well tolerated as the wild type glutamine (Q) at position 13, while all other amino acids led to weaker scFv binding. The interfaces of complexes involving either Q or F are expected to diverge, due to the different physico-chemistry of these residues. This would imply that high-affinity binding can be achieved through distinct interfacial geometries. In order to investigate this point, we disrupted the scFv–peptide interface by modifying one or several peptide positions. We then analyzed the effect on binding of amino acid changes at the remaining positions, an altered susceptibility being indicative of an altered role in complex formation. The 23 starting variants analyzed contained replacements whose effects on scFv1F4 binding ranged from minor to drastic. A permutation analysis (effect of replacing each peptide position by all other amino acids except cysteine) was carried out on the 23 variants using the PEPperCHIP® Platform technology. A comparison of their permutation patterns with that of the wild type peptide indicated that starting replacements at position 11, 12 or 13 modified the tolerance to amino-acid changes at the other two positions. The interdependence between the three positions was confirmed by SPR (Biacore® technology). Our data demonstrate that binding selectivity does not preclude the existence of alternative high-affinity recognition modes.

Monoclonal antibodies to growth and differentiation factor 15 (gdf-15), and uses thereof for treating cancer cachexia and cancer

WISCHHUSEN, Jörg; JUNKER, Markus; SCHÄFER, Tina; PÜHRINGER, Dirk
Oct 2015
The present invention relates to monoclonal anti-human-GDF-15 antibodies. The antibodies include chimeric antibodies and humanized antibodies. The invention also relates to monoclonal anti-human-GDF-15 antibodies including murine antibodies, chimeric antibodies and humanized antibodies for use in methods for the treatment of cancer cachexia and also for the treatment of cancer. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions, kits, methods and uses and cell lines capable of producing the monoclonal antibodies of the invention.

Spot peptide arrays and SPR measurements: throughput and quantification in antibody selectivity studies: Peptide Arrays for Antibody Selectivity Studies

Vernet, Thierry; Choulier, Laurence; Nominé, Yves; Bellard, Laure; Baltzinger, Mireille; Travé, Gilles; Altschuh, Danièle
J. Mol. Recognit..
Oct 2015
Antibody selectivity represents a major issue in the development of efficient immuno-therapeutics and detection assays. Its description requires a comparison of the affinities of the antibody for a significant number of antigen variants. In the case of peptide antigens, this task can now be addressed to a significant level of details owing to improvements in spot peptide array technologies. They allow the high-throughput mutational analysis of peptides with, depending on assay design, an evaluation of binding stabilities. Here, we examine the cross-reactive capacity of an antibody fragment using the PEPperCHIP® technology platform (PEPperPRINT GmbH, Heidelberg, Germany; >8800 peptides per microarray) combined with the surface plasmon resonance characterization (Biacore® technology; GE-Healthcare Biacore, Uppsala, Sweden) of a subset of interactions. ScFv1F4 recognizes the N-terminal end of oncoprotein E6 of human papilloma virus 16. The spot permutation analysis (i.e. each position substituted by all amino acids except cysteine) of the wild type decapeptide (sequence 6TAMFQDPQER15) and of 15 variants thereof defined the optimal epitope and provided a ranking for variant recognition. The SPR affinity measurements mostly validated the ranking of complex stabilities deduced from array data and defined the sensitivity of spot fluorescence intensities, bringing further insight into the conditions for cross-reactivity. Our data demonstrate the importance of throughput and quantification in the assessment of antibody selectivity.

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