Wayne A. Marasco

Antibody mediated in vivo delivery of small interfering RNAs via cell-surface receptors

Delivery of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) into cells is a key obstacle to their therapeutic application. We designed a protamine-antibody fusion protein to deliver siRNA to HIV-infected or envelope-transfected cells. The fusion protein (F105-P) was designed with the protamine coding sequence linked to the C terminus of the heavy chain Fab fragment of an HIV-1 envelope antibody. siRNAs bound to F105-P induced silencing only in cells expressing HIV-1 envelope. Additionally, siRNAs targeted against the HIV-1 capsid gene gag, inhibited HIV replication in hard-to-transfect, HIV-infected primary T cells. Intratumoral or intravenous injection of F105-P-complexed siRNAs into mice targeted HIV envelope-expressing B16 melanoma cells, but not normal tissue or envelope-negative B16 cells; injection of F105-P with siRNAs targeting c-myc, MDM2 and VEGF inhibited envelope-expressing subcutaneous B16 tumors. Furthermore, an ErbB2 single-chain antibody fused with protamine delivered siRNAs specifically into ErbB2-expressing cancer cells. This study demonstrates the potential for systemic, cell-type specific, antibody-mediated siRNA delivery.

Broadly cross-reactive antibodies dominate the human B cell response against 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza virus infection

Although scarce after annual influenza vaccination, B cells producing antibodies capable of neutralizing multiple influenza strains are abundant in humans infected with pandemic 2009 H1N1 influenza.

Receptor and viral determinants of SARS-coronavirus adaptation to human ACE2

Human angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is a functional receptor for SARS coronavirus (SARS‐CoV). Here we identify the SARS‐CoV spike (S)‐protein‐binding site on ACE2. We also compare S proteins of SARS‐CoV isolated during the 2002–2003 SARS outbreak and during the much less severe 2003–2004 outbreak, and from palm civets, a possible source of SARS‐CoV found in humans. All three S proteins bound to and utilized palm‐civet ACE2 efficiently, but the latter two S proteins utilized human ACE2 markedly less efficiently than did the S protein obtained during the earlier human outbreak. The lower affinity of these S proteins could be complemented by altering specific residues within the S‐protein‐binding site of human ACE2 to those of civet ACE2, or by altering S‐protein residues 479 and 487 to residues conserved during the 2002–2003 outbreak. Collectively, these data describe molecular interactions important to the adaptation of SARS‐CoV to human cells, and provide insight into the severity of the 2002–2003 SARS epidemic.

The growth and potential of human antiviral monoclonal antibody therapeutics

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have long provided powerful research tools for virologists to understand the mechanisms of virus entry into host cells and of antiviral immunity. Even so, commercial development of human (or humanized) mAbs for the prophylaxis, preemptive and acute treatment of viral infections has been slow. This is surprising, as new antibody discovery tools have increased the speed and precision with which potent neutralizing human antiviral mAbs can be identified. As longstanding barriers to antiviral mAb development, such as antigenic variability of circulating viral strains and the ability of viruses to undergo neutralization escape, are being overcome, deeper insight into the mechanisms of mAb action and engineering of effector functions are also improving the efficacy of antiviral mAbs. These successes, in both industrial and academic laboratories, coupled with ongoing changes in the biomedical and regulatory environments, herald an era when the commercial development of human antiviral mAb therapies will likely surge.

Inhibition of HIV-1 Tat-mediated LTR transactivation and HIV-1 infection by anti-Tat single chain intrabodies.

Genes encoding the rearranged immunoglobulin heavy and light chain variable regions of anti‐HIV‐1 Tat, exon 1 or exon 2 specific monoclonal antibodies have been used to construct single chain intracellular antibodies ‘intrabodies’ for expression in the cytoplasm of mammalian cells. These anti‐Tat single chain intrabodies (anti‐Tat sFvs) are additionally modified with a C‐terminal human C kappa domain to increase cytoplasmic stability and/or the C‐terminal SV40 nuclear localization signal to direct the nascent intrabody to the nuclear compartment, respectively. The anti‐Tat sFvs with specific binding activity against the N‐terminal activation domain of Tat, block Tat‐mediated transactivation of HIV‐1 LTR as well as intracellular trafficking of Tat in mammalian cells. As a result, the transformed lymphocytes expressing anti‐Tat sFvs are resistant to HIV‐1 infection. Thus, these studies demonstrate that stably expressed single chain intrabodies and their modified forms can effectively target molecules in the cytoplasm and nuclear compartments of eukaryotic cells. Furthermore, these studies suggest that anti‐Tat sFvs used either alone or in combination with other genetically based strategies may be useful for the gene therapy of HIV‐1 infection and AIDS.

Crystal structure of west nile virus envelope glycoprotein reveals viral surface epitopes.

ABSTRACT West Nile virus, a member of the Flavivirus genus, causes fever that can progress to life-threatening encephalitis. The major envelope glycoprotein, E, of these viruses mediates viral attachment and entry by membrane fusion. We have determined the crystal structure of a soluble fragment of West Nile virus E. The structure adopts the same overall fold as that of the E proteins from dengue and tick-borne encephalitis viruses. The conformation of domain II is different from that in other prefusion E structures, however, and resembles the conformation of domain II in postfusion E structures. The epitopes of neutralizing West Nile virus-specific antibodies map to a region of domain III that is exposed on the viral surface and has been implicated in receptor binding. In contrast, we show that certain recombinant therapeutic antibodies, which cross-neutralize West Nile and dengue viruses, bind a peptide from domain I that is exposed only during the membrane fusion transition. By revealing the details of the molecular landscape of the West Nile virus surface, our structure will assist the design of antiviral vaccines and therapeutics.

Substance P binds to the formylpeptide chemotaxis receptor on the rabbit neutrophil

Abstract Substance P, a potent vasodilatory and smooth muscle contracting agent, binds specificially to the formyl peptide receptor on the rabbit neutrophil. Substance P stimulates chemotaxis and induces lysosomal enzyme secretion in concentrations which similarily inhibit f Met-Leu-(3H)Phe receptor binding. Competitive antagonists of the formyl peptide receptor also inhibit the activity of Substance P. The finding of a naturally occurring eukaryotic peptide interacting with the neutrophil formyl peptide receptor is of importance.

Intrabodies : turning the humoral immune system outside in for intracellular immunization

Antibodies have long been used in biomedical science as in vitro tools for the identification, purification and functional manipulation of target antigens; they have been exploited in vivo for diagnostic and therapeutic applications as well. Recent advances in antibody engineering have now allowed the genes encoding antibodies to be manipulated so that the antigen binding domain can be expressed intracellularly. The specific and high-affinity binding properties of antibodies, combined with their ability to be stably expressed in precise intracellular locations inside mammalian cells, has provided a powerful new family of molecules for gene therapy applications. These intracellular antibodies are termed ‘intrabodies’. Two clinical protocols have been approved by the RAC for the use of intrabodies in the treatment of an oncologic and an infectious disease. Their clinical use will in all likelihood become widespread if these initial studies show ‘proof in principle’. In this article, the studies from laboratories that have used intrabodies as molecular reagents for cancer therapy and for the control of infectious diseases will be reviewed and future directions of this technology will be discussed.

Recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Regulation of N-formylmethionylleucylphenylalanine receptor affinity and function on human neutrophils.

Preincubation of neutrophils with recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-alpha (rH TNF-alpha) enhanced the subsequent release of superoxide anion in response to various concentrations of N-formylmethionylleucylphenylalanine (FMLP). Enhanced superoxide anion production was evident by 5 min and had reached a plateau by 15 min. Not only was the total amount of superoxide anion released greater, but the rate of release was also enhanced threefold by rH TNF-alpha. In contrast, rH TNF-alpha reduced or abolished neutrophil locomotion under agarose in response to a gradient of FMLP. Binding studies of f-Met-Leu-[3H]Phe to purified human neutrophils revealed a heterogeneous binding to unstimulated cells. The high affinity component consisted of approximately 2,000 sites per cell and had an average Kd of 2 +/- 0.7 nM (n = 4). The low affinity component consisted of approximately 40,000 sites per cell and had an average Kd of 180 +/- 50 nM (n = 4). rH TNF-alpha caused conversion to a linear Scatchard plot showing no significant change in total binding sites but a single Kd of 40 +/- 10 nM (n = 4). These data indicate that rH TNF-alpha may influence neutrophil responses to FMLP by regulating the affinity of FMLP receptors.

Protective and Therapeutic Capacity of Human Single-Chain Fv-Fc Fusion Proteins against West Nile Virus

ABSTRACT West Nile virus has spread rapidly across the United States, and there is currently no approved human vaccine or therapy to prevent or treat disease. Passive immunization with antibodies against the envelope protein represents a promising means to provide short-term prophylaxis and treatment for West Nile virus infection. In this study, we identified a panel of 11 unique human single-chain variable region antibody fragments (scFvs) that bind the envelope protein of West Nile virus. Selected scFvs were converted to Fc fusion proteins (scFv-Fcs) and were tested in mice for their ability to prevent lethal West Nile virus infection. Five of these scFv-Fcs, 11, 15, 71, 85, and 95, protected 100% of mice from death when given prior to infection with virus. Two of them, 11 and 15, protected 80% of mice when given at days 1 and 4 after infection. In addition, four of the scFv-Fcs cross-neutralized dengue virus, serotype 2. Binding assays using yeast surface display demonstrated that all of our scFvs bind to sites within domains I and II of West Nile virus envelope protein. These recombinant human scFvs are potential candidates for immunoprophylaxis and therapy of flavivirus infections.