Self-assembled luminescent CdSe-ZnS quantum dot bioconjugates prepared using engineered poly-histidine terminated proteins

We report a simple and versatile approach for the conjugation of luminescent CdSe-ZnS core-shell quantum dots (QDs) to proteins through coordination of engineered C-terminal oligohistidine sequences. Several histidine tail containing proteins were self-assembled onto the QD surface using this method. A recombinant antibody specific for the high explosive 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) was conjugated to QDs through a carboxy terminal histidine tail and the bioconjugate used to detect TNT by competitive immunoassay. TNT was detected over the range of 10 μg/ml down to 41 ng/ml using the scFv conjugated to QDs. These results open up the possibility to conjugate luminescent QDs to a whole range of proteins to form QD bioconjugates that can be effectively used in bio-oriented applications, such as sensing, imaging, immunoassay and other diagnostics.     

Screening of High-Affinity scFvs From a Ribosome Displayed Library Using BIAcore Biosensor

An experimental protocol was developed to screen high-affinity single-chain Fv antibody fragments (scFvs) from a Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri (Xac) immunized ribosome display library using BIAcore biosensor. The screening methods involved immobilizing antigen [lipopolysaccharides (LPS) of Xac] on sensor chip HPA and then unpurified expression products of scFvs flowing over the immobilized sensor chip. The affinity-improved scFvs were selected based on dissociation rate constants (k _d). Thirty-five enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay-positive scFvs were analyzed by BIAcore, and three of those (scFv A1, B2, and C5) with lower k _d were screened. To demonstrate the accuracy of the screening method, the three scFvs were expressed in Escherichia coli HB2151 and purified. The purified scFvs were subsequently further identified according to association rate and affinity constants. The results showed that the three scFvs (A1, B2, and C5) had high affinity for LPS of Xac (3.51 × 10⁻¹¹, 1.13 × 10⁻¹⁰, 5.06 × 10⁻¹⁰ M, respectively). Furthermore, the scFv B2 was highly specific for LPS of Xac and had no any cross-reactions with bovine serum albumin and LPS from Xac-related bacteria. This provided evidence that the information from the BIAcore screening assay could be accurate.     

二乙氧基硫代磷酸酯类有机磷农药单链抗体的制备及广谱特异性

从分泌抗二乙氧基硫代磷酸酯类有机磷农药(DPPs)单克隆抗体(MAb)的杂交瘤细胞系(12C2)中提取了总RNA, 经RT-PCR反转录成cDNA, 设计带linker引物, 采用重叠延伸PCR制备单链抗体(scFv)基因, 将其克隆到噬菌体载体p3MH中, 构建成噬菌体单链抗体表达载体, 转化大肠杆菌表达出噬菌体表面展示scFv, 对经过Phage-ELISA鉴定的阳性克隆进行噬菌体外壳蛋白基因geneⅢ的去除, 用IPTG诱导其可溶性表达, 对表达产物进行SDS-PAGE, Western-Blot及ELISA鉴定, 并与亲本MAb进行性能对比. 结果表明, 可溶性表达的scFv分子量为27000; scFv与DPPs的交叉反应率比其亲本MAb提高了1.3~3.5倍, 表明其广谱特异性有所提高. 由于scFv与MAb相比具有诸多优点, 因此本研究为有机磷农药多残留检测方法的建立提供了一种更广谱、 更灵敏的新型识别分子.     

Site-specific conjugation of ScFvs antibodies to nanoparticles by bioorthogonal strain-promoted alkyne-nitrone cycloaddition

Particularly suitable: An N-terminal serine mutant of anti-HER2 scFv antibody was conjugated to polymer-coated magnetofluorescent nanoparticles by strain-promoted alkyne-nitrone cycloaddition. The resulting nanoparticles (see scheme) proved effective in targeting and labeling HER2-positive breast cancer cells.     

Construction of Three Single‐Chain Antibody Fragment Variable Fusion Structures for Sensitive Detection of Nucleocapsid Protein of Hantaan Virus

Abstract

Three single‐chain fragment variable (scFv) fusion structures were constructed for use in rapid and sensitive detection of nucleocapsid protein (NP) of Hantaan virus. The detection of NPs on glass chips was signalized by enzyme labeling or fluorescence dye Cy3, or Cy5 cluster nanoparticles. The sensitivity of the methods with different signal systems was evaluated and compared. The detection limits of scFv‐alkaline phosphatase fusion, fluorescence labeling (scFv‐Cy3), and nanoparticles labeling (scFv‐SBP‐streptavidin‐nanoparticle) were 0.1 µg/mL, 1 ng/mL, and 0.1 ng/mL NP, respectively, which were all lower than that in a conventional enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (1 µg/mL). Twenty Hantaan virus isolates were detected using the proposed methods.     

Isolation and characterization of an anti-recombinant erythropoietin single-chain antibody fragment using a phage display antibody library

The production of a large amount of specific antibodies against erythropoietin (EPO) is necessary for both clinical treatment and doping control. However, the weak immunogenicity of EPO and the side effects of excessive injection make the conventional immunological protocol rather inefficient and time-consuming. In this study, a single-chain antibody fragment of variable region (scFv) against recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) was produced after three rounds of panning a phage display antibody library. The selected scFv-B₂ was expressed in soluble form in Escherichia coli DH5α F′ and purified by His-bond nickel affinity chromatography with a yield of about 1–2 mg of antibody in 1 L of the culture supernatant. The molecular weight of the scFv was estimated to be 29 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and the affinity constant was found to be 1.0×10⁸ L mol⁻¹ based on a competitive indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (CI-ELISA). The potential ability of the scFvs for immunopurification of rHuEPO from related sample was demonstrated by using a double-antibody sandwich ELISA. The reported method is a very powerful tool to produce specific antibodies for rHuEPO detection demands.     

Mimotopes for Mycotoxins Diagnosis Based on Random Peptides or Recombinant Antibodies from Phage Library

Mycotoxins, the small size secondary metabolites of fungi, have posed a threat to the safety of medicine, food and public health. Therefore, it is essential to create sensitive and effective determination of mycotoxins. Based on the special affinity between antibody and antigen, immunoassay has been proved to be a powerful technology for the detection of small analytes. However, the tedious preparation and instability of conventional antibodies restrict its application on easy and fast mycotoxins detection. By virtue of simplicity, ease of use, and lower cost, phage display library provides novel choices for antibodies or hapten conjugates, and lead random peptide or recombinant antibody to becoming the promising and environmental friendly immune-reagents in the next generation of immunoassays. This review briefly describes the latest developments on mycotoxins detection using M13 phage display, mainly focusing on the recent applications of phage display technology employed in mycotoxins detection, including the introduction of phage and phage display, the types of phage displayed peptide/recombinant antibody library, random peptides/recombinant antibodies-based immunoassays, as well as simultaneous determination of multiple mycotoxins.     

Engineered Fully Human Single-Chain Monoclonal Antibodies to PIM2 Kinase

Proviral integration site of Moloney virus-2 (PIM2) is overexpressed in multiple human cancer cells and high level is related to poor prognosis; thus, PIM2 kinase is a rational target of anti-cancer therapeutics. Several chemical inhibitors targeting PIMs/PIM2 or their downstream signaling molecules have been developed for treatment of different cancers. However, their off-target toxicity is common in clinical trials, so they could not be advanced to official approval for clinical application. Here, we produced human single-chain antibody fragments (HuscFvs) to PIM2 by using phage display library, which was constructed in a way that a portion of phages in the library carried HuscFvs against human own proteins on their surface with the respective antibody genes in the phage genome. Bacterial derived-recombinant PIM2 (rPIM2) was used as an antigenic bait to fish out the rPIM2-bound phages from the library. Three E. coli clones transfected with the HuscFv genes derived from the rPIM2-bound phages expressed HuscFvs that bound also to native PIM2 from cancer cells. The HuscFvs presumptively interact with the PIM2 at the ATP binding pocket and kinase active loop. They were as effective as small chemical drug inhibitor (AZD1208, which is an ATP competitive inhibitor of all PIM isoforms for ex vivo use) in inhibiting PIM kinase activity. The HuscFvs should be engineered into a cell-penetrating format and tested further towards clinical application as a novel and safe pan-anti-cancer therapeutics.     

Identification of a Neutralizing scFv Binding to Human Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor 165 (VEGF165) Using a Phage Display Antibody Library

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a multifunctional cytokine that plays a major role in angiogenesis. Alternative splicing causes the production of several different isoforms (VEGF121, 145, 165, 183, 189, 206). VEGF is essential for tumor angiogenesis, and several studies have correlated elevated VEGF levels with tumor stage, metastases, and progression. We now report the isolation by phage display of human single-chain antibody fragment (scFv) anti-VEGF165. After four rounds of panning against VEGF165, 40 out of 90 phage clones displayed VEGF165-binding activity. One of the positive clones, designated B8, bound to VEGF165 with relatively high affinity and neutralized VEGF165 bioactivity in vitro. The B8 clone was expressed in the soluble form in Escherichia coli HB2151 and purified by immobilized metal affinity chromatography. The purified scFv recognized VEGF165 with the K _D of 1.80 × 10⁻⁸ M without cross-reaction to VEGF121. In addition to binding, the purified scFv could does-dependently inhibit VEGF165-induced human umbilical vein-derived endothelial cells proliferation. Together with its fully human mature, B8 scFv may have therapeutic implications in therapy of angiogenesis-dependent diseases.     

Bio-click chemistry: enzymatic functionalization of PEGylated capsules for targeting applications

All sorted: The enzyme Sortase?A was used to catalyze functionalization of PEGylated capsules with an activation-specific anti-platelet single-chain antibody (scFv). This enzymatic method allows fast, covalent, and site-directed functionalization of delivery vehicles under mild conditions. Activation-specific anti-platelet scFv-coated PEGylated capsules exhibited a high level of selective binding to thrombi, thus suggesting their potential for thrombosis therapy.