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Neutrophil elastase (NE) is a serine protease released during neutrophil maturation. High levels of NE are related to lung tissue damage and poor prognosis in cancer, thus, NE is a potential target for therapeutic immunotherapy for multiple lung diseases and cancers. Here, we isolate and characterize two high-affinity, specific, and noncompetitive anti-NE antibodies Fab 1C10 and VH 1D1.43 from two large phage-displayed human Fab and VH libraries. After fusion with human IgG1 Fc, both of them (VH-Fc 1D1.43 and IgG1 1C10) inhibit NE enzymatic activity with VH-Fc 1D1.43 showing comparable inhibitory effects to that of the small molecule NE inhibitor SPCK and IgG1 1C10 exhibiting even higher (2.6-fold) activity than SPCK. Their epitopes, as mapped by peptide arrays combined with structural modeling, indicate different mechanisms for blocking NE activity. Both VH-Fc and IgG1 antibodies block NE uptake by cancer cells and fibroblast differentiation. VH-Fc 1D1.43 and IgG1 1C10 are promising for the antibody-based immunotherapy of cancer and inflammatory diseases.

This protocol is a comprehensive guide to phage display based selection of virus neutralizing VH antibody domains. It details three optimized parts including 1) Construction of large size (theoretically > 1011) naïve human antibody heavy chain domain library, 2) SARS-COV-2 antigen expression and stable cell line construction, and 3) Library panning for selection of SARS-CoV-2 specific antibody domains. Using this protocol, we identified a high-affinity neutralizing human VH antibody domain, VH ab8, which exhibits high prophylactic and therapeutic efficacy., Graphical Abstract

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission with several emerging variants remain uncontrolled in many countries, indicating the pandemic remains severe. Recent studies showed reduction of neutralization against these emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants by vaccine-elicited antibodies. Among those emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants, a panel of amino acid mutations was characterized including those in the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) glycoprotein. In the present study, we evaluated our previously identified antibody and antibody domains for binding to these RBD variants with the emerging mutations, and neutralization of pseudo typed viruses carrying spike proteins with such mutations. Our results showed that one previously identified antibody domain, ab6, can bind 32 out of 35 RBD mutants tested in an ELISA assay. All three antibodies and antibody domains can neutralize pseudo typed B.1.1.7 (UK variant), but only the antibody domain ab6 can neutralize the pseudo typed virus with the triple mutation (K417N, E484K, N501Y). This domain and its improvements have potential for therapy of infections caused by SARS-CoV-2 mutants.

Significance Effective therapies are urgently needed for COVID-19. We rapidly (within a week) identified a fully human monoclonal germline-like antibody (ab1) from phage-displayed libraries that potently inhibited mouse ACE2-adapted SARS-CoV-2 replication in wild-type BALB/c mice and native virus in transgenic mice expressing human ACE2 as well as in hamsters when administered before virus challenge. It was also effective when administered after virus infection of hamsters, although at lower efficacy than when used prophylactically. Ab1 was highly specific and did not bind to human cell membrane-associated proteins. It also exhibited good developability properties including complete lack of aggregation. Ab1 has potential for prophylaxis and therapy of COVID-19 alone or in combination with other agents., Effective therapies are urgently needed for the SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 pandemic. We identified panels of fully human monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) from large phage-displayed Fab, scFv, and VH libraries by panning against the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) glycoprotein. A high-affinity Fab was selected from one of the libraries and converted to a full-size antibody, IgG1 ab1, which competed with human ACE2 for binding to RBD. It potently neutralized replication-competent SARS-CoV-2 but not SARS-CoV, as measured by two different tissue culture assays, as well as a replication-competent mouse ACE2-adapted SARS-CoV-2 in BALB/c mice and native virus in hACE2-expressing transgenic mice showing activity at the lowest tested dose of 2 mg/kg. IgG1 ab1 also exhibited high prophylactic and therapeutic efficacy in a hamster model of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The mechanism of neutralization is by competition with ACE2 but could involve antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) as IgG1 ab1 had ADCC activity in vitro. The ab1 sequence has a relatively low number of somatic mutations, indicating that ab1-like antibodies could be quickly elicited during natural SARS-CoV-2 infection or by RBD-based vaccines. IgG1 ab1 did not aggregate, did not exhibit other developability liabilities, and did not bind to any of the 5,300 human membrane-associated proteins tested. These results suggest that IgG1 ab1 has potential for therapy and prophylaxis of SARS-CoV-2 infections. The rapid identification (within 6 d of availability of antigen for panning) of potent mAbs shows the value of large antibody libraries for response to public health threats from emerging microbes.

Novel COVID-19 therapeutics are urgently needed. We generated a phage-displayed human antibody VH domain library from which we identified a high-affinity VH binder ab8. Bivalent VH, VH-Fc ab8, bound with high avidity to membrane-associated S glycoprotein and to mutants found in patients. It potently neutralized mouse-adapted SARS-CoV-2 in wild-type mice at a dose as low as 2 mg/kg and exhibited high prophylactic and therapeutic efficacy in a hamster model of SARS-CoV-2 infection, possibly enhanced by its relatively small size. Electron microscopy combined with scanning mutagenesis identified ab8 interactions with all three S protomers and showed how ab8 neutralized the virus by directly interfering with ACE2 binding. VH-Fc ab8 did not aggregate and did not bind to 5,300 human membrane-associated proteins. The potent neutralization activity of VH-Fc ab8 combined with good developability properties and cross-reactivity to SARS-CoV-2 mutants provide a strong rationale for its evaluation as a COVID-19 therapeutic., Graphical Abstract, Highlights • A high-affinity human antibody domain, VH ab8, specific for SARS-CoV-2 was selected • VH ab8 bound to all three S protomers competing with ACE2 • Bivalent VH, VH-Fc ab8, potently neutralized SARS-CoV-2 in vitro and in animals • Small size and bivalency contribute to the high ab8 SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing potency, A high-affinity human antibody domain, VH ab8, specific for SARS-CoV-2, bound to all three S protomers competing with ACE2. The relatively small size and bivalency of VH-Fc ab8 contributed to its high potency in two animal models of infection.

Highlights • SARS-CoV-2 RBD-Fc elicited higher neutralizing antibodies titer than RBD as revealed by both pseudovirus and live virus microneutralization assays. • A newly developed high-throughput, quantitative cell-cell fusion assay showed a strong correlation with the neutralization assay. • Anti-RBD sera did not enhance the pseudotyped SARS-CoV-2 infection of K562 cells., The development of an effective vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 is urgently needed. We generated SARS-CoV-2 RBD-Fc fusion protein and evaluated its potency to elicit neutralizing antibody response in mice. RBD-Fc elicited a higher neutralizing antibodies titer than RBD as evaluated by a pseudovirus neutralization assay and a live virus based microneutralization assay. Furthermore, RBD-Fc immunized sera better inhibited cell-cell fusion, as evaluated by a quantitative cell-cell fusion assay. The cell-cell fusion assay results correlated well with the virus neutralization potency and could be used for high-throughput screening of large panels of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and vaccines without the requirement of live virus infection in BSL3 containment. Moreover, the anti-RBD sera did not enhance the pseudotyped SARS-CoV-2 infection of K562 cells. These results demonstrate that Fc fusion can significantly improve the humoral immune response to recombinant RBD immunogen, and suggest that RBD-Fc could serve as a useful component of effective vaccines against SARS-CoV-2.

Effective therapies are urgently needed for COVID-19. Here we describe the identification of a new stable human immunoglobulin G1 heavy-chain variable (VH) domain scaffold that was used for the construction of a large library, lCAT6, of engineered human VHs. This library was panned against the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) glycoprotein. Two VH domains (VH ab6 and VH m397) were selected and fused to Fc for increased half-life in circulation. The VH-Fc ab6 and m397 specifically neutralized SARS-CoV-2 with high potencies (50% neutralization at 0.35 µg/ml and 1.5 µg/ml, respectively) as measured by two independent replication-competent virus neutralization assays. Ab6 and m397 competed with ACE2 for binding to RBD, suggesting a competitive mechanism of virus neutralization. These VH domains may have potential applications for prophylaxis and therapy of COVID-19 alone or in combination, as well as for diagnosis and as tools for research.

Highlights • Recent progress in techniques for isolation of hbnAbs has facilitated the study of passive immunization. • The current effective techniques in broadly neutralizing antibody isolation are reviewed. • Functional study of neutralizing epitopes provides key knowledge for efficient vaccine design., HIV/AIDS has become a worldwide pandemic. Before an effective HIV-1 vaccine eliciting broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (bnmAbs) is fully developed, passive immunization for prevention and treatment of HIV-1 infection may alleviate the burden caused by the pandemic. Among HIV-1 infected individuals, about 20% of them generated cross-reactive neutralizing antibodies two to four years after infection, the details of which could provide knowledge for effective vaccine design. Recent progress in techniques for isolation of human broadly neutralizing antibodies has facilitated the study of passive immunization. The isolation and characterization of large panels of potent human broadly neutralizing antibodies has revealed new insights into the principles of antibody-mediated neutralization of HIV. In this paper, we review the current effective techniques in broadly neutralizing antibody isolation.

The mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are crucial signaling instruments in eukaryotes that play key roles in regulating fungal growth, development, and secondary metabolism and in adapting to the environment. In this study, we characterized an Slt2-type MAPK in Ganoderma lucidum, GlSlt2, which was transcriptionally induced during the primordium and fruiting body stages. RNA interference was used to examine the function of GlSlt2. Knockdown of GlSlt2 caused defects in growth and increased hyphal branching as well as hypersensitivity to cell wall-disturbing substances. Consistently, the chitin and β-1,3-d-glucan contents and the expression of cell wall biosynthesis genes were decreased and down-regulated, respectively, in GlSlt2 knockdown strains compared with those in the wild type (WT). In addition, no primordium or fruiting body could be observed in GlSlt2 knockdown strains. Furthermore, the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) content and ganoderic acid biosynthesis also decreased in GlSlt2 knockdown strains. Addition of H2O2 could recover the decreased ganoderic acid content in GlSlt2 knockdown strains, indicating that GlSlt2 might regulate ganoderic acid biosynthesis via the intracellular ROS level. Overall, GlSlt2 is involved in hyphal growth, fruiting body development, cell wall integrity, oxidative stress and ganoderic acid biosynthesis in G. lucidum.

HIV/AIDS has become a global pandemic. Development of an effective HIV-1 vaccine eliciting broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (bnmAbs) remains a big challenge. Before an effective vaccine comes out, passive treatment for prevention and protection of HIV-1 infection may alleviate the burden caused by the pandemic. Numerous bnmAbs have been isolated against different epitopes in HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein via phage/yeast display, EBV-immortalization, single cell sorting and micro neutralization. Recombinant antibody library with extended diversity and enlarged size of units are applicable by phage/yeast display and mammalian cell display for monoclonal antibody isolation. Here, we constructed an immune recombinant membrane associated full length IgGs library based on mammalian cell display system. This library can be used for monoclonal antibody screening/isolation by target cell sorting. A full length antibody mz2F11 was screened with potent neutralizing activities against a panel of viruses tested. Our study provides a novel way of antibody library construction and monoclonal antibody screening. Antibodies screened via this method can help broaden the knowledge in passive treatment and prevention against HIV-1 infection.

Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity (ADCC) is a major mechanism of protection against viral infections in vivo. Identification of HIV-1-specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) with potent ADCC activity may help develop an effective HIV-1 vaccine. In present study, we isolated such human mAb, designated E10, from an HIV-1-infected patient sample by single B cell sorting and single cell PCR. E10 bound to gp140 trimer and linear peptides derived from gp41 membrane proximal external region (MPER). E10 epitope (QEKNEQELLEL) overlapped with mAb 2F5 epitope. However, E10 differentiated from 2F5 in neutralization breadth and potency, as well as ADCC activity. E10 showed low neutralization activity and narrow spectrum of neutralization compared to 2F5, but it mediated higher ADCC activity than 2F5 at low antibody concentration. Fine mapping of E10 epitope may potentiate MPER-based subunit vaccine development.

Around 3–5% HIV-1-infected individuals develop high titers of broadly neutralizing HIV-1 antibodies (bnAbs) during chronic infection. However, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) isolated from such “elite neutralizers” do not, in most cases, depict the serum IgGs in neutralizing the virus. We hypothesize that HIV-1-specific antibodies in infected subjects may work in a population manner in containing the virus in vivo, and in vitro reconstituted antibody repertoires of “elite neutralizers” may mimic the sera in binding and neutralizing the virus. This study aims to investigate the antibody repertoires of three such “elite neutralizers” by reconstituting the immune antibody repertories in vitro followed by a comparative study of the recombinant library IgGs with the corresponding serum IgGs. We found that the recombinant library IgGs were much weaker than the serum IgGs in binding to envelope glycoproteins (Envs) and in neutralizing the virus and inhibiting Env-mediated cell–cell fusion. However, the sorted libraries composing of HIV-1-specific neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) in the three recombinant libraries exhibited comparable binding and inhibitory activities, as well as antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC), to the serum IgGs. The sorted library IgGs further showed neutralization profiles which are similar to those of the serum IgGs, but they were overall less potent than the serum IgGs. The sorted library IgGs and the serum IgGs bound weakly to the resurfaced Env gp120, RSC3, and did not bind to the CD4 binding site (CD4bs) knock-out mutant, ΔRSC3. Profiling with VRC01 binding site knock-out site mutants of gp120 BaL indicates that, if there are any CD4bs bnAbs in these sera, they are more likely b12-like, but not VRC01-class bnAbs. Our results suggest that HIV-1-specific Ab-expressing B cells, especially potent nAb-expressing B cells may not be rich in the B cell repertoires of “elite neutralizers”, but they may be highly active in producing nAbs in vivo. In vitro reconstituted HIV-1 nAb repertoires of “elite neutralizers” may be used in passive immunization to prevent HIV-1 infection. HIV-1 vaccine immunogens may be designed to target multiple neutralizing determinants to stimulate multiple B cell populations. HIV-1-specific antibodies induced by such immunogens may work in combination or synergistically in containing the virus.

Engaging the antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) for killing of virus-infected cells and secretion of antiviral cytokines and chemokines was incorporated as one of the important features in the design of universal influenza vaccines. However, investigation of the ADCC epitopes on the highly immunogenic influenza hemagglutinin (HA) head region has been rarely reported. In this study, we determined the ADCC and antiviral activities of two putative ADCC epitopes, designated E1 and E2, on the HA head of a pandemic H1N1 influenza virus in vitro and in a lethal mouse model. Our data demonstrated that sera from the E1-vaccinated mice could induce high ADCC activities. Importantly, the induction of ADCC response modestly decreased viral load in the lungs of H1N1-infected mice. However, the elevated ADCC significantly increased mouse alveolar damage and mortality than that of the PBS-vaccinated group (P

The Arabidopsis Ethylene-Insensitive 2 (EIN2) gene was shown to be involved in the regulation of abiotic and biotic stresses, such as ozone stress, high salt, oxidative stress, lead and disease resistances. However, it is unclear whether EIN2 plays a role in mediating the ultraviolet (UV)-B response in Arabidopsis. Here, we show that EIN2 is involved in the regulation of the UV-B response. The EIN2 expression was repressed by UV-B exposure, and ein2-1 mutant plants were more tolerant to UV-B than wild-type plants, as indicated by analysis of survival rates. Significant higher increases in flavonoids and anthocyanins were detected in ein2-1 plants than in wild-type plants treated with or without UV-B treatment, which was associated, at least in part, with constitutively increased transcript levels of two key genes CHALCONE SYNTHASE (CHS) and CINNAMATE 4-HYDROXYLASE (C4H) involved in the biosynthesis pathway of flavonoid and anthocyanins. These results suggest that EIN2 mediates the UV-B response, at least in part, via the modulation of expression of CHS and C4H genes.

A fundamental challenge for developing an effective and safe HIV-1 vaccine is to identify vaccine immunogens that can initiate and maintain immune responses leading to elicitation of broadly neutralizing HIV-1 antibodies (bnAbs) through complex maturation pathways. We have previously found that HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins (Env) lack measurable binding to putative germline predecessors of known bnAbs and proposed to search for non-HIV immunogens that could initiate their somatic maturation. Using bnAb b12 as a model bnAb and yeast display technology, we isolated five (poly) peptides from plant leaves, insects, E. coli strains, and sea water microbes that bind to b12 putative germline and intermediate antibodies. Rabbit immunization with the (poly) peptides alone induced high titers of cross-reactive antibodies that neutralized HIV-1 isolates SF162 and JRFL. Priming rabbits with the (poly) peptides followed by boosts with trimeric gp140(SF162) and then resurfaced Env (RSC3) induced antibodies that competed with mature b12 and neutralized tier 1 and 2 viruses from clade B, C and E, while control rabbits without (poly) peptide priming induced antibodies that did not compete with mature b12 and neutralized fewer isolates. The degree of competition with mature b12 for binding to gp140SF162 correlated with the neutralizing activity of the rabbit IgG. Reversing the order of the two boosting immunogens significantly affected the binding profile and neutralization potency of the rabbit IgG. Our study is the first to provide evidence that appears to support the concept that non-HIV immunogens may initiate immune responses leading to elicitation of cross-clade neutralizing antibodies., published_or_final_version