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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 37 records · Page 2

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever survivors elicit protective non-neutralizing antibodies that target 11 overlapping regions on glycoprotein GP38

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus can cause lethal disease in humans yet there are no approved medical countermeasures. Viral glycoprotein GP38, exclusive to Nairoviridae , is a target of protective antibodies and is a key antigen in preclinical vaccine candidates. Here, we isolate 188 GP38-specific antibodies from human survivors of infection. Competition experiments show that these antibodies bind across 5 distinct antigenic sites, encompassing 11 overlapping regions. Additionally, we show structures of GP38 bound with 9 of these antibodies targeting different antigenic sites. Although these GP38-specific antibodies are non-neutralizing, several display protective efficacy equal to or better than murine antibody 13G8 in two highly stringent rodent models of infection. Together, these data expand our understanding regarding this important viral protein and may inform the development of broadly effective CCHFV antibody therapeutics.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Broad betacoronavirus neutralization by a stem helix–specific human antibody

Targeting a range of betacoranaviruses In the past 20 years, three highly pathogenic β-coronaviruses have crossed from animals to humans, including the most recent: severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). A spike protein that decorates these viruses has an S1 domain that binds host cell receptors and an S2 domain that fuses the viral and cell membranes to allow cell entry. The S1 domain is the target of many neutralizing antibodies but is more genetically variable than S2, and antibodies can exert selective pressure, leading to resistant variants. Pinto et al . identified five monoclonal antibodies that interact with a helix in the S2 domain. The most broadly neutralizing antibody inhibited all β-coronavirus subgenera and reduced viral burden in hamsters infected with SARS-CoV-2. —VV

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Structure and epitope of a neutralizing monoclonal antibody that targets the stem helix of β coronaviruses

Monoclonal antibodies that retain neutralizing activity against multiple coronavirus (CoV) lineages and variants of concern (VoC) must be developed to protect against future pandemics. These broadly neutralizing MAbs (BNMAbs) may be used as therapeutics and/or to assist in the rational design of vaccines that induce BNMAbs. 1249A8 is a BNMAb that targets the stem helix (SH) region of CoV spike (S) protein and neutralizes Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) original strain, delta, and omicron VoC, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome CoV (SARS-CoV), and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome CoV (MERS-CoV). To understand its mechanism of action, the crystal structure of 1249A8 bound to a MERS-CoV SH peptide was determined at 2.1 Å resolution. BNMAb 1249A8 mimics the SARS-CoV-2 S loop residues 743–749, which interacts with the N-terminal end of the SH helix in the S post-fusion conformation. The conformation of 1249A8-bound SH is distinct from the SH conformation observed in the post-fusion SARS-CoV-2 S structure, suggesting 1249A8 disrupts the secondary structure and refolding events required for CoV post-fusion S to initiate membrane fusion and ultimately infection. This study provides novel insights into the neutralization mechanisms of SH-targeting CoV BNMAbs that may inform vaccine development and the design of optimal BNMAb therapeutics.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Structural basis for breadth development in the HIV-1 V3-glycan targeting DH270 antibody clonal lineage

Antibody affinity maturation enables adaptive immune responses to a wide range of pathogens. In some individuals broadly neutralizing antibodies develop to recognize rapidly mutating pathogens with extensive sequence diversity. Vaccine design for pathogens such as HIV-1 and influenza has therefore focused on recapitulating the natural affinity maturation process. Here, we determine structures of antibodies in complex with HIV-1 Envelope for all observed members and ancestral states of the broadly neutralizing HIV-1 V3-glycan targeting DH270 antibody clonal B cell lineage. These structures track the development of neutralization breadth from the unmutated common ancestor and define affinity maturation at high spatial resolution. By elucidating contacts mediated by key mutations at different stages of antibody development we identified sites on the epitope-paratope interface that are the focus of affinity optimization. Thus, our results identify bottlenecks on the path to natural affinity maturation and reveal solutions for these that will inform immunogen design aimed at eliciting a broadly neutralizing immune response by vaccination.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

In silico λ-dynamics predicts protein binding specificities to modified RNAs

Abstract RNA modifications shape gene expression through a variety of chemical changes to canonical RNA bases. Although numbering in the hundreds, only a few RNA modifications are well characterized, in part due to the absence of methods to identify modification sites. Antibodies remain a common tool to identify modified RNA and infer modification sites through straightforward applications. However, specificity issues can result in off-target binding and confound conclusions. This work utilizes in silico λ-dynamics to efficiently estimate binding free energy differences of modification-targeting antibodies between a variety of naturally occurring RNA modifications. Crystal structures of inosine and N6-methyladenosine (m6A) targeting antibodies bound to their modified ribonucleosides were determined and served as structural starting points. λ-Dynamics was utilized to predict RNA modifications that permit or inhibit binding to these antibodies. In vitro RNA-antibody binding assays supported the accuracy of these in silico results. High agreement between experimental and computed binding propensities demonstrated that λ-dynamics can serve as a predictive screen for antibody specificity against libraries of RNA modifications. More importantly, this strategy is an innovative way to elucidate how hundreds of known RNA modifications interact with biological molecules without the limitations imposed by in vitro or in vivo methodologies.

Biochemistry & Molecular Biology↗

Tumor targeted alpha particle therapy with an actinium-225 labelled antibody for carbonic anhydrase IX

Selective antibody targeted delivery of α particle emitting actinium-225 to tumors has significant therapeutic potential. This work highlights the design and synthesis of a new bifunctional macrocyclic diazacrown ether chelator, H 2 MacropaSqOEt, that can be conjugated to antibodies and forms stable complexes with actinium-225. The macrocyclic diazacrown ether chelator incorporates a linker comprised of a short polyethylene glycol fragment and a squaramide ester that allows selective reaction with lysine residues on antibodies to form stable vinylogous amide linkages. This new H 2 MacropaSqOEt chelator was used to modify a monoclonal antibody, girentuximab (hG250), that binds to carbonic anhydrase IX, an enzyme that is overexpressed on the surface of cancers such as clear cell renal cell carcinoma. This new antibody conjugate (H 2 MacropaSq-hG250) had an average chelator to antibody ratio of 4 : 1 and retained high affinity for carbonic anhydrase IX. H 2 MacropaSq-hG250 was radiolabeled quantitatively with [ 225 Ac]Ac III within one minute at room temperature with micromolar concentrations of antibody and the radioactive complex is stable in human serum for >7 days. Evaluation of [ 225 Ac]Ac(MacropaSq-hG250) in a mouse xenograft model, that overexpresses carbonic anhydrase IX, demonstrated a highly significant therapeutic response. It is likely that H 2 MacropaSqOEt could be used to modify other antibodies providing a readily adaptable platform for other actinium-225 based therapeutics.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Computational design of non-porous pH-responsive antibody nanoparticles

Abstract Programming protein nanomaterials to respond to changes in environmental conditions is a current challenge for protein design and is important for targeted delivery of biologics. Here we describe the design of octahedral non-porous nanoparticles with a targeting antibody on the two-fold symmetry axis, a designed trimer programmed to disassemble below a tunable pH transition point on the three-fold axis, and a designed tetramer on the four-fold symmetry axis. Designed non-covalent interfaces guide cooperative nanoparticle assembly from independently purified components, and a cryo-EM density map closely matches the computational design model. The designed nanoparticles can package protein and nucleic acid payloads, are endocytosed following antibody-mediated targeting of cell surface receptors, and undergo tunable pH-dependent disassembly at pH values ranging between 5.9 and 6.7. The ability to incorporate almost any antibody into a non-porous pH-dependent nanoparticle opens up new routes to antibody-directed targeted delivery.

Biochemistry & Molecular Biology↗

SARS-CoV-2 RBD antibodies that maximize breadth and resistance to escape

An ideal therapeutic anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody would resist viral escape 1,2,3 , have activity against diverse sarbecoviruses 4,5,6,7 , and be highly protective through viral neutralization 8,9,10,11 and effector functions 12,13 . Understanding how these properties relate to each other and vary across epitopes would aid the development of therapeutic antibodies and guide vaccine design. Here we comprehensively characterize escape, breadth and potency across a panel of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies targeting the receptor-binding domain (RBD). Despite a trade-off between in vitro neutralization potency and breadth of sarbecovirus binding, we identify neutralizing antibodies with exceptional sarbecovirus breadth and a corresponding resistance to SARS-CoV-2 escape. One of these antibodies, S2H97, binds with high affinity across all sarbecovirus clades to a cryptic epitope and prophylactically protects hamsters from viral challenge. Antibodies that target the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor-binding motif (RBM) typically have poor breadth and are readily escaped by mutations despite high neutralization potency. Nevertheless, we also characterize a potent RBM antibody (S2E12 8 ) with breadth across sarbecoviruses related to SARS-CoV-2 and a high barrier to viral escape. These data highlight principles underlying variation in escape, breadth and potency among antibodies that target the RBD, and identify epitopes and features to prioritize for therapeutic development against the current and potential future pandemics.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Antibody:CD47 ratio regulates macrophage phagocytosis through competitive receptor phosphorylation

Cancer immunotherapies often modulate macrophage effector function by introducing either targeting antibodies that activate Fcγ receptors (FcγRs) or blocking antibodies that disrupt inhibitory SIRPα-CD47 engagement. However, how these competing signals are integrated is poorly understood, raising questions about how to effectively titrate immune responses. Here, we find that macrophage phagocytic decisions are regulated by the ratio of activating ligand to inhibitory ligand over a broad range of absolute molecular densities. Using both endogenous and chimeric receptors, we show that activating:inhibitory ligand ratios of at least 10:1 are required to promote phagocytosis of model antibody-opsonized CD47-inhibited targets and that lowering that ratio reduces FcγR phosphorylation because of inhibitory phosphatases recruited to CD47-bound SIRPα. We demonstrate that ratiometric signaling is critical for phagocytosis of tumor cells and can be modified by blocking SIRPα, indicating that balancing targeting and blocking antibodies may be important for controlling macrophage phagocytosis in cancer immunotherapy.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Structural basis for antibody recognition of the proximal MUC16 ectodomain

Mucin 16 (MUC16) overexpression is linked with cancer progression, metastasis, and therapy resistance in high grade serous ovarian cancer and other malignancies. The cleavage of MUC16 forms independent bimodular fragments, the shed tandem repeat sequence which circulates as a protein bearing the ovarian cancer biomarker (CA125) and a proximal membrane-bound component which is critical in MUC16 oncogenic behavior. A humanized, high affinity antibody targeting the proximal ectodomain represents a potential therapeutic agent against MUC16 with lower antigenic potential and restricted human tissue expression. Here, we demonstrate the potential therapeutic versatility of the humanized antibody as a monoclonal antibody, antibody drug conjugate, and chimeric antigen receptor. We report the crystal structures of 4H11-scFv, derived from an antibody specifically targeting the MUC16 C-terminal region, alone and in complex with a 26-amino acid MUC16 segment resolved at 2.36 Å and 2.47 Å resolution, respectively. The scFv forms a robust interaction with an epitope consisting of two consecutive β-turns and a β-hairpin stabilized by 2 hydrogen bonds. The V H -V L interface within the 4H11-scFv is stabilized through an intricate network of 11 hydrogen bonds and a cation-π interaction. Together, our studies offer insight into antibody-MUC16 ectodomain interaction and advance our ability to design agents with potentially improved therapeutic properties over anti-CA125 moiety antibodies.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Anti-dopamine beta-hydroxylase immunotoxin-induced sympathectomy in adult rats

Anti-dopamine beta-hydroxylase immunotoxin (DHIT) is an antibody-targeted noradrenergic lesioning tool comprised of a monoclonal antibody against the noradrenergic enzyme, dopamine beta-hydroxylase, conjugated to saporin, a ribosome-inactivating protein. Noradrenergic-neuron specificity and completeness and functionality of sympathectomy were assessed. Adult, male Sprague-Dawley rats were given 28.5, 85.7, 142 or 285 micrograms/kg DHIT i.v. Three days after injection, a 6% to 73% decrease in the neurons was found in the superior cervical ganglia of the animals. No loss of sensory, nodose and dorsal root ganglia, neurons was observed at the highest dose of DHIT. In contrast, the immunotoxin, 192-saporin (142 micrograms/kg), lesioned all three ganglia. To assess the sympathectomy, 2 wk after treatment (285 micrograms/kg), rats were anesthetized with urethane (1 g/kg) and cannulated in the femoral artery and vein. DHIT-treated animals' basal systolic blood pressure and heart rate were significantly lower than controls. Basal plasma norepinephrine levels were 41% lower in DHIT-treated animals than controls. Tyramine-stimulated release of norepinephrine in DHIT-treated rats was 27% of controls. Plasma epinephrine levels of DHIT animals were not reduced. DHIT-treated animals exhibited a 2-fold hypersensitivity to the alpha-adrenergic agonist phenylephrine. We conclude that DHIT selectively delivered saporin to noradrenergic neurons resulting in destruction of these neurons. Anti-dopamine beta-hydroxylase immunotoxin administration produces a rapid, irreversible sympathectomy.

NASA Discipline Regulatory Physiology↗

Immunotargeting of Nanocrystals by SpyCatcher Conjugation of Engineered Antibodies

Inorganic nanocrystals such as quantum dots (QDs) and upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs) are uniquely suited for quantitative live-cell imaging and are typically functionalized with ligands to study specific receptors or cellular targets. Antibodies (Ab) are among the most useful targeting reagents owing to their high affinities and specificities, but common nanocrystal labeling methods may orient Ab incorrectly, be reversible or denaturing, or lead to Ab-NP complexes too large for some applications. Here, we report that SpyCatcher proteins, which bind and spontaneously form covalent isopeptide bonds with cognate SpyTag peptides, can conjugate engineered Ab to nanoparticle surfaces with control over stability, orientation, and stoichiometry. Compact SpyCatcher-functionalized QDs and UCNPs may be labeled with short-chain variable fragment Ab (scFv) engineered to bind urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptors (uPAR) that are overexpressed in many human cancers. Confocal imaging of anti-uPAR scFv-QD conjugates shows the antibody mediates specific binding and internalization by breast cancer cells expressing uPAR. Time-lapse imaging of photostable scFv-UCNP conjugates shows that Ab binding causes uPAR internalization with a ~20 min half-life on the cell surface, and uPAR is internalized to endolysosomal compartments distinct from general membrane stains and without significant recycling to the cell surface. The controlled and stable conjugation of engineered Ab to NPs enables targeting of diverse receptors for live-cell study of their distribution, trafficking, and physiology.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Human antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 with a recurring YYDRxG motif retain binding and neutralization to variants of concern including Omicron

Studying the antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 informs on how the human immune system can respond to antigenic variants as well as other SARS-related viruses. Here, we structurally identified a YYDRxG motif encoded by IGHD3-22 in CDR H3 that facilitates antibody targeting to a functionally conserved epitope on the SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain. A computational search for a YYDRxG pattern in publicly available sequences uncovered 100 such antibodies, many of which can neutralize SARS-CoV-2 variants and SARS-CoV. Thus, the YYDRxG motif represents a common convergent solution for the human humoral immune system to target sarbecoviruses including the Omicron variant. These findings suggest an epitope-targeting strategy to identify potent and broadly neutralizing antibodies for design of pan-sarbecovirus vaccines and antibody therapeutics.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Priming antibody responses to the fusion peptide in rhesus macaques

Immunodominance of antibodies targeting non-neutralizing epitopes and the high level of somatic hypermutation within germinal centers (GCs) required for most HIV broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) are major impediments to the development of an effective HIV vaccine. Rational protein vaccine design and non-conventional immunization strategies are potential avenues to overcome these hurdles. Here, we report using implantable osmotic pumps to continuously deliver a series of epitope-targeted immunogens to rhesus macaques over the course of six months to prime and elicit antibody responses against the conserved fusion peptide (FP). GC responses and antibody specificities were tracked longitudinally using lymph node fine-needle aspirates and electron microscopy polyclonal epitope mapping (EMPEM), respectively, to show antibody responses to the FP/N611 glycan hole region were primed, although exhibited limited neutralization breadth. Application of cryoEMPEM delineated key residues for on-target and off-target responses that can drive the next round of structure-based vaccine design.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗