Sequence-based design and construction of synthetic nanobody library.

Nanobody (Nb), the smallest antibody fragments known to bind antigens, is now widely applied to various studies, including protein structure analysis, bioassay, diagnosis, and biomedicine. The traditional approach to generating specific nanobodies involves animal immunization which is time-consuming and expensive. As the understanding of the antibody repertoire accumulation, the synthetic library, which is devoid of animals, has attracted attention widely in recent years.

A potent neutralizing nanobody targeting a unique epitope on the receptor-binding domain of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein.

SARS-CoV-2 and its variants continue to threaten public health. Nanobodies that block the attachment of the RBD to host cell angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) represent promising drug candidates. In this study, we reported the identification and structural biological characterization of a nanobody from a RBD-immunized alpaca.

Sensitivity Intensified Ninhydrin-Based Chromogenic System by Ethanol-Ethyl Acetate: Application to Relative Quantitation of GABA.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a functional metabolite in various organisms. Herein, a sensitivity intensified ninhydrin-based chromogenic system (SINICS), achieved by ethanol and ethyl acetate, is described for the reliable relative quantitation of GABA. A 2.

Structure-Based Discovery and Structural Basis of a Novel Broad-Spectrum Natural Product against the Main Protease of Coronavirus.

Over the past 20 years, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), Middle East respiratory syndrome CoV (MERS-CoV), and SARS-CoV-2 emerged, causing severe human respiratory diseases throughout the globe. Developing broad-spectrum drugs would be invaluable in responding to new, emerging coronaviruses and to address unmet urgent clinical needs. Main protease (M; also known as 3CL) has a major role in the coronavirus life cycle and is one of the most important targets for anti-coronavirus agents.

Tandem nanobody: A feasible way to improve the capacity of affinity chromatography.

Nanobodies, referred to the binding domain of the heavy-chain-only antibodies, are the smallest antigen recognition unit. The molecular weight of monomeric nanobodies is about one-tenth of the conventional antibodies. The small size of nanobodies facilitates genetic manipulation and recombinant expression.

Stability comparison of four lipases and catalytic mechanism during the synthesis of 1,3-di-oleic-2-medium chain triacylglycerols in a trace water-in-oil system: Experimental analyses and computational simulations.

In the present study, a kind of structured lipids, namely 1,3-di-oleic-2-medium chain (OMO) triacylglycerols, were synthesized through lipase-catalyzed reactions using coconut oil and rapeseed acid as materials in a trace water-in-oil system. Experimental analysis and computational simulations were undertaken to compare the stability of four lipases including Lipozyme RMIM, Lipozyme TLIM, Novozym 435, and Aspergillus oryzae immobilized lipase (AOIM), and illustrate catalytic mechanism of Novozym 435 during the synthesis of OMO. Fourier transform infrared and molecular dynamics simulation results demonstrated that a decrease in ordered structure (α-helix and β-sheet) led to a reduction in enzyme activity.

Research on the Mechanism of Action of a Citrinin and Anti-Citrinin Antibody Based on Mimotope X27.

Immunoassays are developed based on antigen-antibody interactions. A mimotope is an effective recognition receptor used to study the mechanism of action of antigens and antibodies, and is used for improving the sensitivity of the antibody. In this study, we built a 3D structure of the citrinin (CIT) mimotope X27 and anti-CIT single-chain antibody fragment (ScFv) through a "homologous modeling" strategy.

The ctnF gene is involved in citrinin and pigment synthesis in Monascus aurantiacus.

The application of Monascus is restricted by citrinin. So, it is important to explore the synthetic pathway of citrinin to completely inhibit the production of citrinin. In our previous study, we found that the protein encoded by the ctnF gene has a significant similarity to fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase (F26BPase).

Engineering a recombination neutral protease I from to improve enzyme activity at acidic pH.

Extracellular neutral proteases (NPs) in () play a role in hydrolyzing soybean proteins into smaller peptides at pH about 7.5. The optimum pH of moromi fermentation (The second stage of soy sauce fermentation.

Landscape of variable domain of heavy-chain-only antibody repertoire from alpaca.

Heavy-chain-only antibodies (HCAbs), which are devoid of light chains, have been found naturally occurring in various species including camelids and cartilaginous fish. Because of their high thermostability, refoldability and capacity for cell permeation, the variable regions of the heavy chain of HCAbs (VHHs) have been widely used in diagnosis, bio-imaging, food safety and therapeutics. Most immunogenetic and functional studies of HCAbs are based on case studies or a limited number of low-throughput sequencing data.

Single-chain variable fragment antibody-based immunochromatographic strip for rapid detection of fumonisin B in maize samples.

A rapid and sensitive immunochromatographic strip (ICS) based on a single-chain variable fragment (scFv) was developed for detecting fumonisin B (FB). The ICS was based on a competitive reaction for colloidal gold-labeled scFv between FB and FB-BSA, which was used along with sheep anti-mouse IgG as capture reagents immobilized at test and control lines, respectively, on a nitrocellulose membrane of the strip. The limit of detection of the ICS was 2.

One-step orientated immobilization of nanobodies and its application for immunoglobulin purification.

Affinity chromatography technologies play an important role in the purification of antibodies. To prepare affinity materials, prior isolation and purification of affinity ligands are required before coupling onto solid supports, which is quite expensive and laborious in large-scale applications. In this study, a one-step approach which circumvents the ligand purification procedures was developed to fabricate affinity gel for purifying immunoglobulin G (IgG).

Panning anti-LPS nanobody as a capture target to enrich Vibrio fluvialis.

Vibrio fluvialis is considered as a human pathogen in developing countries. This bacterium is widely distributed in seawater and harbors that contains traces of salt. V.

One-Step Ultrasensitive Bioluminescent Enzyme Immunoassay Based on Nanobody/Nanoluciferase Fusion for Detection of Aflatoxin B in Cereal.

Nanoluciferase (Nluc), the smallest luciferase known, was used as the fusion partner with a nanobody against aflatoxin B to develop a bioluminescent enzyme immunoassay (BLEIA) for detection of the aflatoxin B in cereal. Nanobody (clone G8) against aflatoxin B was fused with nanoluciferase and cloned into a pET22b expression vector, and then transformed into Escherichia coli. The nanobody fusion gene contained a hexahistidine tag for purification by immobilized metal affinity chromatography, yielding a biologically active fusion protein.

Substrate sustained release-based high efficacy biosynthesis of GABA by Lactobacillus brevis NCL912.

Background: Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) plays a significant role in the food and drug industries. Our previous study established an efficient fed-batch fermentation process for Lactobacillus brevis NCL912 production of GABA from monosodium L-glutamate; however, monosodium L-glutamate may not be an ideal substrate, as it can result in the rapid increase of pH due to decarboxylation. Thus, in this study, L-glutamic acid was proposed as a substrate.

Evaluation of truncated G protein delivered by live attenuated Salmonella as a vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus.

Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can cause severe acute lower respiratory tract disease leading to numerous hospitalizations and deaths in the infant and elderly populations worldwide, while no vaccine or effective drug is available for RSV infections. In the present study, truncated G protein was successfully expressed both in prokaryotic and eukaryotic system, and high levels of serum IgG in response to truncated G protein were observed both in GD-protein group (intramuscularly with purified GD protein) and GD-VNP20009 group (challenged via the oral route with 1 × 10 CFU of pLIVE-RSV-GD-VNP20009 strains) since 21th day, and GD-VNP20009 significantly reduced the productions of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, histamine and pathological features caused by the RSV Long strain (P < .01).

Anti-idiotypic nanobody-alkaline phosphatase fusion proteins: Development of a one-step competitive enzyme immunoassay for fumonisin B1 detection in cereal.

A rapid and sensitive one-step competitive enzyme immunoassay for the detection of FB1 was developed. The anti-idiotypic nanobody-alkaline phosphatase (Ab2β-Nb-AP) was validated by the AP enzyme activity and the properties of bounding to anti-FB1-mAb (3F11) through colorimetric and chemiluminescence analyses. The 50% inhibitory concentration and the detection limit (LOD) of colorimetric enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for FB1 were 2.

Nanobody medicated immunoassay for ultrasensitive detection of cancer biomarker alpha-fetoprotein.

Immunoassay for cancer biomarkers plays an important role in cancer prevention and early diagnosis. To the development of immunoassay, the quality and stability of applied antibody is one of the key points to obtain reliability and high sensitivity for immunoassay. The main purpose of this study was to develop a novel immunoassay for ultrasensitive detection of cancer biomarker alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) based on nanobody against AFP.

[Optimization of whole-cell biocatalysis for phenylacetyl- 7-aminodeacetoxycephalosporanic acid production].

Cephalosporins are widely used antibiotics owing to their broad activity spectra and low toxicity. Many of these medically important compounds are made chemically from 7-aminodeacetoxycephalosporanic acid. At present, this intermediate is made by synthetic ring-expansion of the inexpensive penicillin G to form G-7-ADCA, followed by enzymatic removal of the side chain to obtain 7-ADCA.

Anti-idiotypic nanobody as citrinin mimotope from a naive alpaca heavy chain single domain antibody library.

Compared with peptide-based mimotope, anti-idiotypic antibodies (AIds) are considered as promising biosynthetic surrogate antigen because these antibodies display stable protein conformation. Nevertheless, conventional AIds are generated by immunizing animals with heterologous idiotypic antibody in vivo; isolated AIds commonly exhibit a higher affinity to primary antibodies than target analytes because AIds undergo an affinity-matured process during immune responses, resulting in low sensitivity in competitive immunoassay. In the present study, an anti-citrinin monoclonal antibody (anti-CIT McAb) was designed as primary antibody; one β-type AI alpaca heavy chain single domain antibody (β-AI VHH) was selected as a citrinin (CIT) surrogate from a naive phage-displayed VHH library.

Citrinin detection using phage-displayed anti-idiotypic single-domain antibody for antigen mimicry.

Anti-idiotypic antibodies (AIds) can mimic antigen molecules and can thus offer an alternative to conventional antigens in immunoassays. In this study, citrinin (CIT) was chosen as a target analyte, and an anti-idiotypic single-domain antibody (VHH) was selected from a naïve alpaca VHHs library to serve as a surrogate for CIT hapten. The phage-displayed VHH was used as a signal-amplification carrier to develop an indirect competitive phage enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (P-ELISA) for the sensitive detection of CIT.

Preparation and characterization of novel IgG affinity resin coupling anti-Fc camelid single-domain antibodies.

This work aimed to evaluate novel affinity resin used to purify immunoglobulin G (IgG) with a variable domain of the heavy chain of the heavy-chain antibody (VHH) as an affinity ligand. The VHH, isolated from a naïve camelid single-domain phage display library, exhibits not only affinity to the fragment crystallizable (Fc) region of IgG but also high thermal stability. This anti-Fc VHH (AFV) was expressed as a soluble protein in Escherichia coli and purified using a simple heat treatment procedure.

VHH phage-based competitive real-time immuno-polymerase chain reaction for ultrasensitive detection of ochratoxin A in cereal.

Phage display-mediated immuno-polymerase chain reaction (PD-IPCR) is an ultrasensitive detection technology that combines the advantages of immuno-PCR and phage display. The phage particle, which displayed antibody fragments including single-chain fragment variable (scFv), variable domain of heavy-chain antibodies (VHH), and antigen-binding fragment (Fab) on the surface can be directly used in IPCR, supplying both the detection antibody and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) template. In this work, we used ochratoxin A (OTA) as a model system to study the capacity of PD-IPCR in the detection of toxic small molecular weight compounds, especially mycotoxins.