Synthesis of DNP-modified GM3-based anticancer vaccine and evaluation of its immunological activities for cancer immunotherapy

Tumor-associated carbohydrate antigens (TACAs) are attractive targets for vaccine development. In this context, we described a strategy combining artificial TACA and glycoengineering for cancer vaccine development. A 2,4-ditrophenyl (DNP)-modified GM3 intermediate was synthesized chemoenzymatically and conjugated to keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH), and the resulting bioconjugate was tested for its potential as a vaccine candidate. Mice immunological studies revealed that the DNP-modified GM3 (GM3-NHDNP) analog elicited strong and rapid immune responses by recruiting anti-DNP antibodies to facilitate the targeted delivery of the vaccine construct to antigen processing cells (APCs). Moreover, the endogenously produced anti-DNP antibodies, together with the elicited antibodies against GM3-NHDNP, may synergistically promote tumor binding and cancer cell death when the cancer cell surfaces are glycoengineered to express the GM3-NHDNP antigen.     

A totally synthetic, self-assembling, adjuvant-free MUC1 glycopeptide vaccine for cancer therapy

In the development of vaccines for epithelial tumors, the key targets are MUC1 proteins, which have a variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) bearing tumor-associated carbohydrate antigens (TACAs), such as Tn and STn. A major obstacle in vaccine development is the low immunogenicity of the short MUC1 peptide. To overcome this obstacle, we designed, synthesized, and evaluated several totally synthetic self-adjuvanting vaccine candidates with self-assembly domains. These vaccine candidates aggregated into fibrils and displayed multivalent B-cell epitopes under mild conditions. Glycosylation of Tn antigen on the Thr residue of PDTRP sequence in MUC1 VNTR led to effective immune response. These vaccines elicited a high level antibody response without any adjuvant and induced antibodies that recognized human breast tumor cells. These vaccines appeared to act through a T-cell independent pathway and were associated with the activation of cytotoxic T cells. These fully synthetic, molecularly defined vaccine candidates had several features that hold promise for anticancer therapy.     

Investigation of Novel Peptide Chiral Selectors Prepared by Solid-Phase Synthesis with a tert-Butoxycarbonyl Amino Acid

A new class of chiral stationary phases (CSP) with peptide chiral selectors was prepared by solid-phase synthesis with a tert-butoxycarbonyl-L-amino acid on silica. The type of amino acid that is favorable for this class of CSP is discussed. Using the CSP with the phenylalanine peptide selector, the effect of peptide length on the enantioselectivity was investigated in normal-phase mode. The applicability of the CSP with a phenylalanine peptide to chiral ligand-exchange chromatography was also examined.

     

Design and application of GB virus C (GBV-C) peptide microarrays for diagnosis of GBV-C/HIV-1 co-infection

The main objectives of the design of GB virus C (GBV-C) peptide microarrays are the miniaturisation of antigen–antibody interaction assays, the simultaneous analysis of several peptide sequences and the reduction in the volume of serum required from patients since this always represents a limiting factor in studies to develop new systems for diagnosing human diseases. We herein report the design of a microarray immunoassay based on synthetic peptides derived from the GBV-C E2 protein to evaluate their diagnostic value in detecting anti-E2 antibodies in HIV-1 patients. To this end, peptide microarrays were initially prepared to identify the most relevant epitopes in the GBV-C E2 protein. Thus, 124 peptides composed of 18 amino acids covering the whole E2-protein sequence, with 15 residue overlaps, were spotted in triplicate onto γ-aminopropyl silane-functionalised adsorbent binding slides. The procedure to select the E2 protein epitopes was carried out using serum samples from HIV-1-infected patients. The samples had previously been tested for the presence or absence of GBV-C anti-E2 antibodies by means of the Abbott test. Thus, 11 specific epitopes in the GBV-C E2 protein were identified. Subsequently, peptide antigen microarrays were constructed using the E2 epitopes identified to detect GBV-C anti-E2 antibodies in the serum of HIV-1-infected patients with no known GBV-C co-infection. The 11 peptides selected identified anti-E2 GBV-C antibodies among HIV-1-infected patients, and a reactivity of 47 % was established. The potential antigenic peptides selected could be considered a useful tool for designing a new diagnostic system based on peptide microarrays to determine anti-GBV-C E2 antibodies in the serum of HIV-1-infected patients.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic evaluation of a coated cellulose tris(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) chiral stationary phase having a small-pore silica support

A two-step coating/precipitation synthetic procedure has been developed for the preparation of cellulose tris(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) chiral stationary phase (CSP) having a small-pore silica support. With this synthetic strategy, monodisperse, spherical CSP particles can be produced without the need for a wasteful and time-consuming sieving process. The performance of the synthesized CSP towards a variety of racemates was evaluated in the normal-phase HPLC mode. HPLC separation experiments revealed that the synthesized CSP exhibited a chiral recognition ability fully comparable to the corresponding commercial columns prepared using conventional large-pore silica as the support. Moreover, the synthesized CSP was successfully applied to semipreparative enantioseparation of a new triazole antifungal agent.     

合成多肽疫苗研究进展

综述了合成多肽疫苗的研究进展,系统地介绍了目前寻找抗原肽的各种方法以及各类可用作疫苗接种的合成多肽抗原的制备和应用.     

Clinical significance of anti-filaggrin antibody recognizing uncitrullinated filaggrin in rheumatoid arthritis

Filaggrin is expressed in the cornified layer of epidermis and known to be one of the antigenic targets in rheumatoid arthritis. Although the citrulline residue in filaggrin is thought to be an antigenic determinant recognized by autoantibodies, the diagnostic sensitivity of synthetic citrullinated peptide is variable. To investigate the implication of anti-filaggrin antibodies recognizing uncitrullinated filaggrin in rheumatoid arthritis, we assayed antibody titers using unmodified recombinant filaggrin in the sera from 73 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, 150 patients with other connective tissue diseases and 70 normal controls. We also performed the correlation analysis between antibody titers and the clinical variables in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Titers of IgG anti-filaggrin antibodies were significantly higher in rheumatoid arthritis patients compared to normal controls (P=0.02), but not in patients with osteoarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis or systemic lupus erythematosus. IgG anti-filaggrin antibodies were more frequently found in patients with rheumatoid arthritis compared to normal controls (12.3% vs 1.4% respectively, P=0.04). An anti-filaggrin antibody titer was correlated with visual analogue scale of pain, tender joint count, Ritchie articular index or C-reactive protein, but not with anti-nuclear antibody or rheumatoid factor. These results suggest that anti-filaggrin antibody recognizes the uncitrullinated filaggrin as an antigen and its titer correlates with clinical parameters, explaining the variable sensitivity of anti-filaggrin antibody test.     

A Fully Synthetic Glycopeptide Antitumor Vaccine Based on Multiple Antigen Presentation on a Hyperbranched Polymer

For antitumor vaccines both the selected tumor‐associated antigen, as well as the mode of its presentation, affect the immune response. According to the principle of multiple antigen presentation, a tumor‐associated MUC1 glycopeptide combined with the immunostimulating T‐cell epitope P2 from tetanus toxoid was coupled to a multi‐functionalized hyperbranched polyglycerol by “click chemistry”. This globular polymeric carrier has a flexible dendrimer‐like structure, which allows optimal antigen presentation to the immune system. The resulting fully synthetic vaccine induced strong immune responses in mice and IgG antibodies recognizing human breast‐cancer cells.     

Structure-Guided Design of a Group B Streptococcus Type III Synthetic Glycan–Conjugate Vaccine

Identification of glycan functional epitopes is of paramount importance for rational design of glycoconjugate vaccines. We recently mapped the structural epitope of the capsular polysaccharide from type III Group B Streptococcus (GBSIII), a major cause of invasive disease in newborns, by using a dimer fragment (composed of two pentasaccharide repeating units) obtained by depolymerization complexed with a protective mAb. Although reported data had suggested a highly complex epitope contained in a helical structure composed of more than four repeating units, we showed that such dimer conjugated to a carrier protein with a proper glycosylation degree elicited functional antibodies comparably to the full-length conjugated polysaccharide. Here, starting from the X-ray crystallographic structure of the polysaccharide fragment–mAb complex, we synthesized a hexasaccharide comprising exclusively the relevant positions involved in binding. Combining competitive surface plasmon resonance and saturation transfer difference NMR spectroscopy as well as in-silico modeling, we demonstrated that this synthetic glycan was recognized by the mAb similarly to the dimer. The hexasaccharide conjugated to CRM₁₉₇, a mutant of diphtheria toxin, elicited a robust functional immune response that was not inferior to the polysaccharide conjugate, indicating that it may suffice as a vaccine antigen. This is the first evidence of an X-ray crystallography-guided design of a synthetic carbohydrate-based conjugate vaccine.     

Direct antigen capture by soluble scFv antibodies

For ease of detection, soluble forms of phage-displayed scFv antibodies are usually expressed with a tag, e.g., c-myc or His (Histidine). The binding is then assayed by a monoclonal antibody to the tag. In this article, we describe the use of biotinylated antigen for detecting soluble scFv antibodies without utilizing the peptide tag detection system. The scFv antibodies were against the oncoplacental antigen heat-stable alkaline phosphatase (HSAP). The method essentially consisted of either reverse Western or antigen capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In the reverse Western, periplasmic extract was electrophoresed, and binding to biotinylated antigen was detected by the detection system based on streptavidin-horseradish peroxidase. The antigen capture ELISA utilized the binding of periplasmic extract to a polystyrene plate. We have also demonstrated the use of antigen capture ELISA for studying specificity and affinity of the selected clones. Although these techniques have been developed for antibodies to HSAP, they have general utility for phage expression systems without a peptide tag.     

Syntheses of Salmonella Paratyphi A Associated Oligosaccharide Antigens and Development towards Anti-Paratyphoid Fever Vaccines

With the emergence of multidrug resistant Salmonella strains, the development of anti-Salmonella vaccines is an important task. Currently there are no approved vaccines against Salmonella Paratyphi A, the leading cause of paratyphoid fever. To fill this gap, oligosaccharides corresponding to the O-polysaccharide repeating units from the surface of Salmonella Paratyphi A have been synthesized through convergent stereoselective glycosylations. The synthetic glycan antigen was conjugated with a powerful immunogenic carrier system, the bacteriophage Qβ. The resulting construct was able to elicit strong and long-lasting anti-glycan IgG antibody responses, which were highly selective toward Salmonella Paratyphi A associated glycans. The availability of well-defined glycan antigen enabled the determination that one repeating unit of the polysaccharide is sufficient to induce protective antibodies, and the paratose residue and/or the O-acetyl modifications on the backbone are important for recognition by antibodies elicited by a Qβ-tetrasaccharide conjugate. Immune sera provided excellent protection to mice from lethal challenge with Salmonella Paratyphi A, highlighting the potential of the synthetic glycan-based vaccine.     

Injectable Biodegradable Chitosan‐Alginate 3D Porous Gel Scaffold for mRNA Vaccine Delivery

mRNA vaccines have proven to be more stable, effective, and specific than protein/peptide‐based vaccines in stimulating both humoral and cellular immune response. However, mRNA's fast degradation rate and low‐transfection efficiency in vivo impede its potential in vaccination. Recent research in gene delivery has focused on nonviral vaccine carriers and either implantable or injectable delivery systems to improve transgene expression in vivo. Here, an injectable chitosan‐alginate gel scaffold for the local delivery of mRNA vaccines is reported. Gel scaffold biodegradation rates and biocompatibility are quantified. Scaffold‐mediated mRNA in vivo transgene expression as well as ovalbumin antigen specific cellular and humoral immune responses are evaluated in vivo. Luciferase reporter protein expression resulting from mRNA lipoplex‐loaded gel scaffolds is five times higher than systemic injection. Compared to systemic injections of naked mRNA or mRNA:lipoplexes, elevated levels of T cell proliferation and IFN‐γ secretion are seen with in vivo scaffold‐mediated mRNA lipoplex delivery. Furthermore, a humoral response (ovalbumin antigen specific IgG levels) is observed as early as week 1 for scaffold‐mediated mRNA lipoplex delivery, while protein‐based immunization did not elicit IgG production until 2 weeks post‐injection. Results suggest that injectable scaffold mRNA vaccine delivery maybe a viable alternative to traditional nucleic acid immunization methods.     

A simple direct enzyme immunoassay of antibodies based on the differences in diffusion rates in a gel of a synthetic antigen and of its complex with antibodies

A simple direct enzyme immunoassay for semiquantitative detec tion of antibodies is suggested. It is based on the difference in diffusion rates in a gel for a synthetic low-mol-wt antigen and of its complexes with antibodies to be detected. Sensitivity and specificity of the devel oped assay are equal to an ELISA method. The assay has been tested with antibodies against HIV protein gp41 in rabbit serum. Possible applications and limitations of the method are discussed.     

Antigenic and immunogenic phage displayed mimotopes as substitute antigens: applications and limitations

The most exciting potential of phage displayed peptide libraries is to obtain small peptide molecules that mimic an antigen, at least with respect to a particular epitope. In addition to their interest as research tools, such mimotopes could in principle be useful as diagnostic tools or for eliciting antibodies to a predefined epitope. However, the reduction of the phage insert sequence to a short peptide that can compete with the antigenic and in particular with the immunogenic properties of the natural antigen faces considerable difficulties. This review assesses critically the antigenicity of phage displayed peptides as free peptides and in different molecular environments. The difficulties to use mimotopes to induce antibodies that bind to the natural antigen (crossreactive immunogenicity) and the considerable discrepancy between antigenicity and immunogenicity of phage-derived peptides are discussed. Peptides selected with antibodies from phage displayed random peptide libraries have raised considerable expectations as low molecular weight substitutes of the natural antigen. This review will focus on the results of phage displayed random peptide libraries screened with antibodies specific for proteins, carbohydrates and nucleic acids and critically examine how the above expectations have been met.     

Synthesis and Immunological Evaluation of Self‐Assembling and Self‐Adjuvanting Tricomponent Glycopeptide Cancer‐Vaccine Candidates

Self‐adjuvanting tricomponent vaccines were prepared and assessed for their self‐assembly and immunological activity in mouse models. The vaccines each consisted of a peptide or glycopeptide antigen that corresponds to a complete copy of the variable‐number tandem repeat (VNTR) of the tumor‐associated mucin 1 (MUC1) glycoprotein, the universal T‐cell helper peptide epitope PADRE, and the immunoadjuvant Pam₃CysSer. The vaccines were shown to spontaneously self‐assemble in water to form isotropic particles varying in size from 17 to 25 nm and elicited robust humoral responses in murine models without the addition of an external adjuvant. The serum antibodies could recognize tumor‐associated MUC1 epitopes on the surface of MCF7 breast‐cancer cells and B16 melanoma cells, which overexpress this tumor‐associated glycoprotein.     

Immobilization of monoclonal antibodies for affinity chromatography using a chelating peptide.

A procedure was developed for oriented immobilization of monoclonal antibodies on a solid support. The technique involves the specific oligosaccharide-directed covalent modification of the monoclonal antibody (mAb) with the chelating peptide, Lys-Gly-(His)6, in conjunction with immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography. Chelating peptide-mAb conjugates with a molar ratio of 2.2 retained full antigen binding activity. On immobilization of the modified antibodies on a nickel affinity resin, the molar antigen binding ratio was 1.4. The high antigen binding capacity is indicative of oriented immobilization providing maximum access for the antigen. The described method can be used for the preparation of high-capacity immunosorbents for affinity chromatography and it is applicable for all immunoglobulin classes.     

Synthetic Multivalent Glycopeptide‐Lipopeptide Antitumor Vaccines: Impact of the Cluster Effect on the Killing of Tumor Cells

Multivalent synthetic vaccines were obtained by solid‐phase synthesis of tumor‐associated MUC1 glycopeptide antigens and their coupling to a Pam₃Cys lipopeptide through click reactions. These vaccines elicited immune responses in mice without the use of any external adjuvant. The vaccine containing four copies of a MUC1 sialyl‐T_N antigen showed a significant cluster effect. It induced in mice prevailing IgG_2a antibodies, which bind to MCF‐7 breast tumor cells and initiate the killing of these tumor cells by activation of the complement‐dependent cytotoxicity complex.     

Application Studies of Antigenic Peptides

The region of an antigen that is recognized by a paratope is called an antigenic determinant or epitope. Antigenic peptide presented epitope is very important to many fields, such as detecting diseases, developing synthetic peptide vaccines. Herein we reported antigenic peptide applications in HEV diagnosis, protein detection in gene expression product of transgenic tobacco and synthetic peptide vaccine against schistosomiasis.     

合成高分子作为手性固定相在高效液相色谱中的应用

具有旋光活性的合成高分子基于它的手性结构而具有广泛的应用,其中最实际和广泛的应用是在高效液相色谱中作为手性固定相来拆分对映异构体,目前已成为合成化学、分析化学以及制药化学领域必不可少的分离材料.本文简要介绍了高效液相色谱手性固定相拆分法,综述了合成高分子,包括加聚物特别是聚甲基丙烯酸酯类和聚甲基丙烯酰胺类聚合物、聚酰胺...     

Antibodies to short synthetic peptides for specific recognition of partly denatured protein

On immunization with subclasses of homologous proteins, the presence of immunodominant class-specific structures often prevents the development of subclass specific antibodies. Immunization with synthetic peptides representing specific structures in such a protein can then be used instead. Sequences derived from human IgG2 and Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin were used as a model to develop general criteria for immunization with synthetic peptides. Peptide sequences were selected on the basis of criteria such as hydrophilic property, surface probability and secondary structure, which together constitute an antigenic index. The carrier proteins keyhole limpet hemocyanin and chicken gammaglobulin were coupled by using either carbodiimide or a maleimide. Peptide-specific responses can be elicited regardless of the sequence. Some coupling conditions influenced the specificity of the antibody responses. The results of immunization with short peptides not representing a natural B-cell determinant of a protein suggest that the frequency of native protein-recognizing antibodies is considerably lower than that of antibodies that recognize the protein in a partly denatured or altered state.