Nanobody engineering for SARS-CoV-2 neutralization and detection.

Unlabelled: In response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the quest for coronavirus inhibitors has inspired research on a variety of small proteins beyond conventional antibodies, including robust single-domain antibody fragments, i.e., "nanobodies.

Array-In-Well Epitope Mapping of Phage-Displayed Antibodies.

Novel affinity reagents, such as single chain (scFv) antibody fragments, can be generated by isolating them from recombinant protein libraries using phage display selection. A successful selection process against a target protein can produce a number of binder candidates among which the desired binders are identified by screening and characterization of individual clones. Obtaining information on the binding properties, such as the binding epitope, already during the screening step helps to choose the most useful candidates for further development at early phase saving time and resources.

Real-time wash-free detection of unlabeled PNA-DNA hybridization using discrete FET sensor.

We demonstrate an electrochemical sensor for detection of unlabeled single-stranded DNA using peptide nucleic acid (PNA) probes coupled to the field-effect transistor (FET) gate. The label-free detection relies on the intrinsic charge of the DNA backbone. Similar detection schemes have mainly concentrated on sensitivity improvement with an emphasis on new sensor structures.

Array-in-well binding assay for multiparameter screening of phage displayed antibodies.

Phage display is a well-established and powerful tool for the development of recombinant antibodies. In a standard phage display selection process using a high quality antibody phage library, a large number of unique antibody clones can be generated in short time. However, the pace of the antibody discovery project eventually depends on the methodologies used in the next screening phase to identify the clones with the most promising binding characteristics e.

Array-in-well platform-based multiplex assay for the simultaneous detection of anti-HIV- and treponemal-antibodies, and Hepatitis B surface antigen.

Multiplex assays detecting sets of related clinical analytes simultaneously can save considerable amount of time and resources. Array-in-well (AIW) is a powerful platform for the multiplex detection of different analytes where microarrays can be printed at the bottom of microtiter wells, thus combining the potential of microarrays with the ease of handling microtiter wells. We have developed a single-step AIW assay for the simultaneous screening of HIV, Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum (causing syphilis) and Hepatitis B virus infections targeting the specific detection of anti-HIV- and treponemal-antibodies and Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), respectively, using two different fluorescent label technologies i.

Quantitative multianalyte microarray immunoassay utilizing upconverting phosphor technology.

A quantitative multianalyte immunoassay utilizing luminescent upconverting single-crystal nanoparticles as reporters on an antibody array-in-well platform was demonstrated. Upconverting nanoparticles are inorganic rare earth doped materials that have the unique feature of converting low energy infrared radiation into higher energy visible light. Autofluorescence, commonly limiting the sensitivity of fluorescence-based assays, can be completely eliminated with photon upconversion technology because the phenomenon does not occur in biological materials.

Genotyping of clinically relevant human adenoviruses by array-in-well hybridization assay.

A robust oligonucleotide array-in-well hybridization assay using novel up-converting phosphor reporter technology was applied for genotyping clinically relevant human adenovirus types. A total of 231 adenovirus-positive respiratory, ocular swab, stool and other specimens from 219 patients collected between April 2010 and April 2011 were included in the study. After a real-time PCR amplification targeting the adenovirus hexon gene, the array-in-well assay identified the presence of B03 (n = 122; 57.

A cell spot microarray method for production of high density siRNA transfection microarrays.

Background: High-throughput RNAi screening is widely applied in biological research, but remains expensive, infrastructure-intensive and conversion of many assays to HTS applications in microplate format is not feasible.

Results: Here, we describe the optimization of a miniaturized cell spot microarray (CSMA) method, which facilitates utilization of the transfection microarray technique for disparate RNAi analyses. To promote rapid adaptation of the method, the concept has been tested with a panel of 92 adherent cell types, including primary human cells.

Oligonucleotide array-in-well platform for detection and genotyping human adenoviruses by utilizing upconverting phosphor label technology.

We have developed a robust array-in-well test platform based on an oligonucleotide array, combining advantages of simple instrumentation and new upconverting phosphor reporter technology. Upconverting inorganic lanthanide phosphors have a unique property of photoluminescence emission at visible wavelengths under near-infrared excitation. No autofluorescence is produced from the sample or support material, enabling a highly sensitive assay.

Integrative functional genomics analysis of sustained polyploidy phenotypes in breast cancer cells identifies an oncogenic profile for GINS2.

Aneuploidy is among the most obvious differences between normal and cancer cells. However, mechanisms contributing to development and maintenance of aneuploid cell growth are diverse and incompletely understood. Functional genomics analyses have shown that aneuploidy in cancer cells is correlated with diffuse gene expression signatures and aneuploidy can arise by a variety of mechanisms, including cytokinesis failures, DNA endoreplication, and possibly through polyploid intermediate states.

Spatio-temporal composition of the mitotic Chromosomal Passenger Complex detected using in situ proximity ligation assay.

Cell division is orchestrated by a complex protein network that aims to maintenance of genomic stability. Visualisation of mitotic protein-protein associations in space and time has been limited due to the lack of proper biochemical and easy-to-use imaging tools. Here we report adaptation of the in situ proximity ligation assay (is-PLA) to study mitotic protein interactions with spatio-temporal resolution.

Protein lysate microarray analysis to identify microRNAs regulating estrogen receptor signaling in breast cancer cell lines.

Predicting the impact of microRNAs (miRNAs) on target proteins is challenging because of their different regulatory effects at the transcriptional and translational levels. In this study, we applied a novel protein lysate microarray (LMA) technology to systematically monitor for target protein levels after high-throughput transfections of 319 pre-miRs into breast cancer cells. We identified 21 miRNAs that downregulated the estrogen receptor-alpha (ERalpha), as validated by western blotting and quantitative real time-PCR, and by demonstrating the inhibition of estrogen-stimulated cell growth.

Typing of enteroviruses by use of microwell oligonucleotide arrays.

We have developed a straightforward assay for the rapid typing of enteroviruses using oligonucleotide arrays in microtiter wells. The viral nucleic acids are concomitantly amplified and labeled during reverse transcription-PCR, and unpurified PCR products are used for hybridization. DNA strands are separated by alkaline denaturation, and hybridization is started by neutralization.

ProteomeBinders: planning a European resource of affinity reagents for analysis of the human proteome.

ProteomeBinders is a new European consortium aiming to establish a comprehensive resource of well-characterized affinity reagents, including but not limited to antibodies, for analysis of the human proteome. Given the huge diversity of the proteome, the scale of the project is potentially immense but nevertheless feasible in the context of a pan-European or even worldwide coordination.

Antibody microarrays using resonance light-scattering particles for detection.

Antibody microarray measurements show great potential for the simultaneous quantification of many proteins in small amounts of body fluids and extracts. Over the last few years, a micro-array platform centered around the concept of microarrays in microtiter wells was developed, and for the best assays we have achieved lower limits of detection in the femtomolar range using resonance light-scattering particles for the staining of biotinylated detection antibodies. Although conceptually simple, these multiplexed sandwich assays are technically challenging.

Human Protein Atlas charts a diverse terrain.

A complete set of high-quality antibodies against the human proteome would constitute a remarkable resource for the analysis of protein abundances in tissues, facilitating systematic protein expression profiling in health and disease. In two recent papers, Swedish researchers describe a concerted effort towards producing a 'Human Protein Atlas' by combining high-throughput antibody generation with immunohistochemical profiling of tissue microarrays.

Immunoassay and antibody microarray analysis of the HUPO Plasma Proteome Project reference specimens: systematic variation between sample types and calibration of mass spectrometry data.

Four different immunoassay and antibody microarray methods performed at four different sites were used to measure the levels of a broad range of proteins (N = 323 assays; 39, 88, 168, and 28 assays at the respective sites; 237 unique analytes) in the human serum and plasma reference specimens distributed by the Plasma Proteome Project (PPP) of the HUPO. The methods provided a means to (1) assess the level of systematic variation in protein abundances associated with blood preparation methods (serum, citrate-anticoagulated-plasma, EDTA-anticoagulated-plasma, or heparin-anticoagulated-plasma) and (2) evaluate the dependence on concentration of MS-based protein identifications from data sets using the HUPO specimens. Some proteins, particularly cytokines, had highly variable concentrations between the different sample preparations, suggesting specific effects of certain anticoagulants on the stability or availability of these proteins.

Engineering dihydropteroate synthase (DHPS) for efficient expression on M13 phage.

Phage display is a commonly used selection technique in protein engineering, but not all proteins can be expressed on phage. Here, we describe the expression of a cytoplasmic homodimeric enzyme dihydropteroate synthetase (DHPS) on M13 phage, established by protein engineering of DHPS. The strategy included replacement of cysteine residues and screening for periplasmic expression followed by random mutagenesis and phage display selection with a conformation-specific anti-DHPS antibody.

Selecting for antibody scFv fragments with improved stability using phage display with denaturation under reducing conditions.

Stability of single-chain Fvs (scFvs) can be improved by mutagenesis followed by phage display selection where the unstable variants are first inactivated by, for example, denaturing treatment. Here we describe a modified strategy for the selection of stabilized antibody fragments by phage display, based on denaturation under reducing conditions. This strategy was applied to an anti-thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) scFv fragment which refolded remarkably during the selection if denaturation was carried out in conventionally used non-reducing conditions.

Evaluating sandwich immunoassays in microarray format in terms of the ambient analyte regime.

Background: Conceptionally, antibody microarrays are simply multiplexed sandwich immunoassays in a miniaturized format. However, from the amounts of capture antibodies used, it is not apparent whether such assays are ambient analyte (Ekins. Clin Chem 1998;44:2015-30) or mass-sensing devices (Silzel et al.

Affinity-independent elution of antibody-displaying phages using cleavable DNA linker containing streptavidin beads.

The search for high-affinity antibodies from phage libraries by panning is often complicated by inefficient detachment of the captured phage particles from the antigen-coated solid phase. General elution methods, independent on the bioaffinity interaction, would be desirable for high-throughput antibody screening. We have developed a bioaffinity-independent elution method based on the use of commercially available streptavidin paramagnetic particles.

Modulating the binding properties of an anti-17beta-estradiol antibody by systematic mutation combinations.

The anti-17beta-estradiol antibody 57-2 has been a subject for several protein engineering studies that have produced a number of mutants with improved binding properties. Here, we generated a set of 16 antibody 57-2 variants by systematically combining mutations previously identified from phage display-derived improved antibody mutants. These mutations included three point mutations in the variable domain of the light-chain and a heavy-chain variant containing a four-residue random insertion in complementarity determining region CDR-H2.

Further improvement of broad specificity hapten recognition with protein engineering.

Sulfa-antibiotics (sulfonamides) are widely used in veterinary medicine. Meat and milk from treated animals can be contaminated with sulfa residues. Current sulfonamide assays are unfit for screening of food, because they are either too laborious, insensitive or specific for a few sulfa compounds only.

Generation of thermostable monomeric luciferases from Photorhabdus luminescens.

Bacterial luciferases and the genes encoding these light-emitting enzymes have an increasing number of applications in biological sciences. Temperature lability and the heterodimeric nature of these luciferases have been the major obstacles for their widespread use, for instance, as genetic reporters. Escherichia coli expressing wild-type Photorhabdus luminescens luciferase was found to produce eight times more light than the corresponding Vibrio harveyi luciferase clone in vivo at 37 degrees C.

Improving broad specificity hapten recognition with protein engineering.

Sulfa antibiotics (sulfonamides) are derivatives of p-aminobenzenesulfonamide that are widely used in veterinary medicine. Foods derived from treated animals may be contaminated with these drugs. However, current immunobased sulfonamide detection methods are unfit for screening of products because they are either too insensitive or specific for a few compounds only.