猪肌生成抑制素基因去信号肽蛋白二级构预测和B细胞表位分析

目的预测猪肌生成抑制素去信号肽蛋白的二级结构和B细胞优势抗原表位,为生产该蛋白的单克隆抗体、建立噬菌体抗体库、研制针对该基因的表位多肽疫苗、表位核酸疫苗等奠定基础。方法根据猪肌生成抑制素去信号肽蛋白氨基酸序列,应用7种参数和方法分析预测二级结构和抗原表位,包括Garnier-Robson、Chou-Fasman、Karplus-Schulz、Kyte-Doolittle、Emini、Jameson-Wolf及吴氏综合预测方法。结果MSTN去信号肽蛋白存在多个潜在的抗原表位位点,其中B细胞抗原优势表位可能在1-11、41-55、57-64、62-90、99-104、138-144、193-200、202-212、235-243区段或其附近,此结果将为进一步鉴定和合成多肽疫苗和表位核酸疫苗制备抗猪MSTN蛋白抗体提供依据,并为研究MSTN结构和功能奠定基础。     

结核分枝杆菌Rv0081基因编码蛋白的生物信息学分析

运用生物信息学分析软件预测结核分枝杆菌（Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mtb）Rv0081蛋白的生物学特征及筛选潜在的优势抗原表位。 从NCBI数据库获取Mtb Rv0081蛋白的氨基酸序列，利用生物信息学分析软件ProtParam、ProtScale及TMPRED分析Rv0081蛋白的理化性质及亲疏水性；TMHMM、SignalP-5.0 Server预测蛋白的跨膜区及信号肽；NetNGlyc-1.0 Server、NetPhos 3.1 Server分别预测蛋白的糖基化位点及磷酸化位点；STRING预测能与Rv0081相互作用的蛋白；分别运用SOPMA、SWISS-MODEL预测蛋白的二、三级结构；综合运用softberry、WoLF PSORT预测蛋白的亚细胞定位；运用DNAStar预测蛋白的B细胞抗原表位；综合运用SYFPEITHI、NetCTL 1.2 Server、Net MHC pan 4.1 server预测蛋白的CTL细胞抗原表位；综合运用SYFPEITHI、Net MHCII pan 4.0 server预测蛋白的Th细胞抗原表位。 结果表明，Rv0081蛋白由114个氨基酸组成，相对分子质量为12 356.32，亚细胞定位于细胞质中，为稳定的疏水性蛋白，无跨膜区和信号肽，含有1个糖基化位点及9个磷酸化位点；二级结构主要由α-螺旋和无规则卷曲构成，结构较松散；与hycE、hycP、Rv0088、Rv0083、hycD、hycQ、Rv0082、devR、Rv0080及Rv0079蛋白存在相互作用关系；综合分析各软件预测结果筛选出6个优势B细胞抗原表位、6个优势CTL细胞抗原表位及7个优势Th细胞抗原表位。Mtb Rv0081蛋白具有较多潜在的候选B、T细胞抗原表位，可作为研发新型结核疫苗的候选抗原。     

重组牛乳源金黄色葡萄球菌GapC蛋白优势B细胞抗原表位的预测和筛选

旨在表达牛乳源金黄色葡萄球菌(Staphylococcus aureus)GapC蛋白并对其B细胞抗原表位进行预测与鉴定，本研究利用实验室分离鉴定的S. aureus分离株15119扩增GapC基因并构建重组表达质粒pET-28a-GapC，诱导纯化得到分子量为44 kD重组蛋白GapC，以此免疫新西兰大白兔，获得特异多克隆抗体。利用生物信息学方法，对GapC蛋白的二级及三级结构进行分析，预测其B细胞抗原表位，并利用特异性抗体对筛选的表位进行鉴定。结果表明，GapC蛋白具有良好的免疫原性，筛选出7个线性B细胞抗原表位，利用兔抗重组GapC蛋白多克隆抗体鉴定得到了PL 5(²²¹ IPEIDGKLDGGAQRVP²³⁶)多肽和PL 7(²⁶⁴KNASNESFGYTEDEIVSSDVVGM²⁸⁶)2个优势B细胞表位。本研究成功制备了GapC蛋白，预测并鉴定了2个优势抗原表位，为其嵌合表位疫苗的开发提供了技术支持。     

范可尼贫血互补群E基本特性及抗原表位的生物信息学分析

范可尼贫血互补群E(FANCE)属于FA家族的重要成员之一，参与DNA链间交联损伤修复并在某些肿瘤中起重要作用。本研究运用生物信息学方法对FANCE的同源性、理化性质、亲/疏水性、信号肽、亚细胞定位、跨膜结构、蛋白结构、蛋白质互相作用、B/T细胞优势抗原表位以及肿瘤相关性进行预测。FANCE为无信号肽和跨膜区的疏水性蛋白，主要分布在细胞核和细胞质，具有较高的保守性。其二级结构以α-螺旋和无规则卷曲为主，含有2个N-糖基化、9个O-糖基化以及48个磷酸化位点，与FANCM、FANCD2、FANCC等蛋白发生相互作用。FANCE具有多个潜在的B/T细胞优势抗原表位和17个抗原决定簇，在急性髓性白血病（LAML）和皮肤黑色瘤（SKCM）中低表达，其低表达显著影响患者总生存率。这为深入研究FANCE在肿瘤中的分子机制提供理论依据，使FANCE可能成为新的治疗靶点。     

绿脓杆菌外膜蛋白OprF的生物信息学分析

[目的]利用生物信息学方法预测绿脓杆菌外膜蛋白OprF的理化性质、高级结构和细胞表位。[方法]采用在线软件预测OprF蛋白的理化性质;Signal P 4.1软件预测OprF信号肽序列;利用TMHMM软件预测ACFA蛋白跨膜结构;SOPMA服务器预测蛋白的二级结构;Swiss-Model程序预测OprF三维结构;综合ABCpred与Bepi Pred方案预测OprF的B细胞表位;运用神经网络法预测OprF的CTL表位;使用MHC-Ⅱ类分子结合肽程序预测OprF的Th细胞表位。[结果]OprF为亲水性蛋白;1~24位氨基酸为信号肽序列;存在多个酶切位点;无跨膜结构并定位于细胞膜外;二级结构中含无规则卷曲34.36%、α-螺旋31.90%、β-转角11.66%、β-片层22.09%;并可能存在3个B细胞表位、2个CTL表位、4个Th细胞表位。[结论]系统分析了OprF蛋白的理化性质、信号肽、跨膜结构、二级与三级结构,以及B、T细胞抗原表位。     

猪胸膜肺炎放线杆菌flic蛋白二级结构与B细胞表位预测

目的:预测和分析猪胸膜肺炎放线杆菌(Actionobacillus pleuropneumoniae,APP)鞭毛蛋白(flic)的二级结构和B细胞表位.方法:利用生物信息学方法对flic基因推导的氨基酸序列进行结构特征和B细胞表位预测分析.结果:flic蛋白为非稳定型脂蛋白,含有2个酪蛋白激酶Ⅱ磷酸化位点(39-42 SirD,164-167 SvkD)和3个蛋白质激酶C磷酸化位点(39-41 SiR,161-163 TsR、164-166 SvK).该蛋白无信号肽,在21Ala～38Ala处存在跨膜区的可能性最大.fljc蛋白的二级结构主要由无规卷曲区域、α-螺旋和β-折叠组成,而形成较少的转角结构.该蛋白的B细胞表位可能位于55～61和152～158区段内或其附近区域.结论:预测结果将有助于确定file蛋白的B细胞表位,为进一步研究flic基因功能及研制APP基因工程疫苗提供参考.     

乙型肝炎病毒S蛋白的序列特征分析

乙肝病毒S蛋白是病毒的包膜蛋白,与病毒进入细胞有关,它存在逆转录过程并且具有极强的潜伏性。本论文应用生物信息学分析乙肝病毒S蛋白的序列特征,利用在线分析软件预测乙肝病毒S蛋白的理化性质和亲疏水性、跨膜区域、信号肽特征、磷酸化位点、二级结构以及乙肝病毒S蛋白的最佳抗原表位形成位置等。结果显示了乙肝病毒S蛋白由226个氨基酸组成,理论等电点是8.21,为不稳定蛋白,总平均亲水性为0.649,是疏水蛋白质,并且该蛋白存在信号肽,有4个跨膜区,有30个潜在的磷酸化位点,主要二级结构为α螺旋和无规则卷曲,同时,结合乙型肝炎病毒S蛋白的序列可及性、线性表位、β转角、柔性、抗原性的预测结果,可以找到潜在的抗原表位区域,为乙型肝炎的表位疫苗研制提供重要的参考依据,有利于进一步对乙型肝炎S蛋白的抗原性进行研究。     

白念珠菌细胞壁蛋白Csp37抗原表位预测

目的预测白念珠菌细胞壁蛋白Csp37的抗原表位,分析其作为疫苗靶点的免疫原性。方法采用生物信息学方法对Csp37蛋白的抗原表位进行预测,利用ProtParam网络服务器分析蛋白基本理化性质,SignaIP 3.0预测信号肽,TMHMM软件预测跨膜区,GOR4在线分析蛋白二级结构,DNAStar预测分析亲水性、可塑性、表面可及性和氨基酸抗原指数,使用在线工具ABCPred预测B细胞抗原表位,Syfpeithi预测T细胞抗原表位。最后,综合分析B细胞和T细胞共有抗原表位。结果预测白念珠菌细胞壁蛋白Csp37的B细胞表位9个和T细胞表位8个,以及共有的优势抗原表位5个,共同优势区域为:45-48,76-78,153-158,222-225,303-305位氨基酸。结论白念珠菌细胞壁蛋白Csp37含有丰富的抗原表位,具有诱导细胞免疫应答和体液免疫应答的潜能,可以作为疫苗研究的新靶点。     

2019新型冠状病毒S蛋白的结构和功能分析

运用生物信息学,预测急性呼吸系统综合症冠状病毒2(SARS-CoV-2/2019-nCoV)的基本理化性质、结构、功能和抗原表位等,为新型冠状病毒肺炎(COVID-19)的防治提供思路。应用ExPASy分析S蛋白的消光系数、不稳定系数和半衰期等理化性质;利用SignaIP v5.0分析S蛋白的信号肽;应用TMHMM分析S蛋白的跨膜区;利用NetPhos3.1在线工具预测S蛋白的磷酸化位点;应用Pfam预测S蛋白的结构域;应用PSIPRED分析S蛋白的二级结构特征;利用SWISS-MODEL构建S蛋白的三级结构;利用BLAST分析SARS-CoV-2的S蛋白与其他物种的相似性;利用MEGA软件分析2019-nCoV的S蛋白与其他物种的进化关系。S蛋白由1 273个氨基酸组成,其相对分子质量为141 178.47,等电点为6.24,含有一个跨膜区,是低亲水性分泌蛋白;S蛋白的基本组成单位为纤突蛋白,其二级结构中以无规则卷曲和螺旋结构为主,三级结构中纤突糖蛋白和ACE2复合体具有重要的意义;2019-nCoV与蝙蝠冠状病毒和SARS-CoV同源;S蛋白存在多个潜在的线性T细胞和B细胞表位,1 202～1 210位氨基酸区域的抗原性和应答频率最高。生物信息学技术有利于了解S蛋白的理化性质、结构、功能和潜在的线性T细胞表位等,可为新型冠状肺炎的研究和防治提供参考依据。     

SM22-α蛋白结构与功能的生物信息学分析

[目的]通过生物信息学分析手段对SM22-α蛋白结构与作用进行系统性分析。[方法]从NCBI数据库中获取SM22-α蛋白的基本信息,应用NCBI GenBank、ExPAsy、TMHMM Server v.2.0、NetPhos 3.1 Server、IEDB、SIGNALP 5.0 Server等生物信息学分析软件对SM22-α蛋白的氨基酸序列、理化性质、跨膜结构、亲水/疏水性、功能位点、信号肽、序列同源性、糖基化和磷酸化位点、空间结构以及抗原表位进行分析。[结果]SM22-α蛋白编码201个氨基酸,为碱性蛋白,其等电点为8.85,不稳定指数为31.85,并将其归为稳定蛋白。其平均亲水系数为-0.607,为亲水性蛋白。根据IEDB在线软件发现SM22-α蛋白序列的第4-31、39-50、70-89、105-111、116-122、138-197存在B细胞抗原表位。利用HLA-A*0.2:0.1算法预测SM22-α蛋白序列第61和130位序列表面存在2个T细胞抗原表位;若利用HLA-DRBI*0401算法预测则第142位序列存在1个T细胞抗原表位。SM22-α蛋白的二级结构中α螺旋占46.77%,延伸链占6.47%,β-转角占4.48%,无规则卷曲占42.29%。且通过生物信息学分析可知SM22-α蛋白在不同物种之间的同源性为97.0%~68.7%。[结论]SM22-α为碱性、稳定、亲水性胞外蛋白,且蛋白表面含有T、B细胞抗原表位,可为其抗原性药物研究提供理论参考。     

新型冠状病毒相关TMPRSS2蛋白结构特征和抗原表位分析

采用生物信息学方法分析预测新型冠状病毒(Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2,SARS-CoV-2)跨膜蛋白酶丝氨酸2(transmembrane protease serine 2,TMPRSS2)的理化特性、结构特征和抗原表位,为抗SARS-CoV-2药物研...     

Properties of the recombinant TNF-binding proteins from variola, monkeypox, and cowpox viruses are different

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF), a potent proinflammatory and antiviral cytokine, is a critical extracellular immune regulator targeted by poxviruses through the activity of virus-encoded family of TNF-binding proteins (CrmB, CrmC, CrmD, and CrmE). The only TNF-binding protein from variola virus (VARV), the causative agent of smallpox, infecting exclusively humans, is CrmB. Here we have aligned the amino acid sequences of CrmB proteins from 10 VARV, 14 cowpox virus (CPXV), and 22 monkeypox virus (MPXV) strains. Sequence analyses demonstrated a high homology of these proteins. The regions homologous to cd00185 domain of the TNF receptor family, determining the specificity of ligand-receptor binding, were found in the sequences of CrmB proteins. In addition, a comparative analysis of the C-terminal SECRET domain sequences of CrmB proteins was performed. The differences in the amino acid sequences of these domains characteristic of each particular orthopoxvirus species were detected. It was assumed that the species-specific distinctions between the CrmB proteins might underlie the differences in these physicochemical and biological properties. The individual recombinant proteins VARV-CrmB, MPXV-CrmB, and CPXV-CrmB were synthesized in a baculovirus expression system in insect cells and isolated. Purified VARV-CrmB was detectable as a dimer with a molecular weight of 90 kDa, while MPXV- and CPXV-CrmBs, as monomers when fractioned by non-reducing SDS-PAGE. The CrmB proteins of VARV, MPXV, and CPXV differed in the efficiencies of inhibition of the cytotoxic effects of human, mouse, or rabbit TNFs in L929 mouse fibroblast cell line. Testing of CrmBs in the experimental model of LPS-induced shock using SPF BALB/c mice detected a pronounced protective effect of VARV-CrmB. Thus, our data demonstrated the difference in anti-TNF activities of VARV-, MPXV-, and CPXV-CrmBs and efficiency of VARV-CrmB rather than CPXV- or MPXV-CrmBs against LPS-induced mortality in mice.     

Endophilin B1 基因及蛋白的生物信息学分析

目的:利用生物信息学方法分析人Endophilin B1基因以及蛋白的结构,为进一步研究其功能和参与的调控机制提供一定的理论依据。方法:通过GenBank搜索Endophilin B1基因及蛋白序列,采用生物信息学方法分析该基因在不同物种中的差异,分析该蛋白的亚细胞定位,二级结构,功能域以及抗原表位。结果:该基因编码一个长度为365个氨基酸的蛋白,具有两个BAR和SH3两个功能域。Endophilin B1蛋白理论分子量为40796.3,理论等电点为5.78。二级结构中α螺旋(H)占56.44%,β折叠(E)占5.48%,无规卷曲占38.08%。Endophilin B1蛋白含有4个可能的N连接糖基化位点,5个潜在的酪蛋白激酶II磷酸化位点,7个豆蔻酰基化位点,3个PKC磷酸化位点以及2个酪氨酸激酶磷酸化位点。并进一步利用DNAstar软件分析了了该蛋白的抗原表位。结论:利用生物信息学预测出的结构和功能信息,能为Endophin B1蛋白的相关研究提供一定的信息基础。     

Replication-Competent Foamy Virus Vaccine Vectors as Novel Epitope Scaffolds for Immunotherapy

The use of whole viruses as antigen scaffolds is a recent development in vaccination that improves immunogenicity without the need for additional adjuvants. Previous studies highlighted the potential of foamy viruses (FVs) in prophylactic vaccination and gene therapy. Replication-competent FVs can trigger immune signaling and integrate into the host genome, resulting in persistent antigen expression and a robust immune response. Here, we explored feline foamy virus (FFV) proteins as scaffolds for therapeutic B and T cell epitope delivery in vitro. Infection- and cancer-related B and T cell epitopes were grafted into FFV Gag, Env, or Bet by residue replacement, either at sites of high local sequence homology between the epitope and the host protein or in regions known to tolerate sequence alterations. Modified proviruses were evaluated in vitro for protein steady state levels, particle release, and virus titer in permissive cells. Modification of Gag and Env was mostly detrimental to their function. As anticipated, modification of Bet had no impact on virion release and affected virus titers of only some recombinants. Further evaluation of Bet as an epitope carrier was performed using T cell epitopes from the model antigen chicken ovalbumin (OVA), human tyrosinase-related protein 2 (TRP-2), and oncoprotein E7 of human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16E7). Transfection of murine cells with constructs encoding Bet-epitope chimeric proteins led to efficient MHC-I-restricted epitope presentation as confirmed by interferon-gamma enzyme-linked immunospot assays using epitope-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) lines. FFV infection-mediated transduction of cells with epitope-carrying Bet also induced T-cell responses, albeit with reduced efficacy, in a process independent from the presence of free peptides. We show that primate FV Bet is also a promising T cell epitope carrier for clinical translation. The data demonstrate the utility of replication-competent and -attenuated FVs as antigen carriers in immunotherapy.     

Identification of B cell epitopes of alcohol dehydrogenase allergen of Curvularia lunata

Background/Objective

Epitope identification assists in developing molecules for clinical applications and is useful in defining molecular features of allergens for understanding structure/function relationship. The present study was aimed to identify the B cell epitopes of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) allergen from Curvularia lunata using in-silico methods and immunoassay.

Method

B cell epitopes of ADH were predicted by sequence and structure based methods and protein-protein interaction tools while T cell epitopes by inhibitory concentration and binding score methods. The epitopes were superimposed on a three dimensional model of ADH generated by homology modeling and analyzed for antigenic characteristics. Peptides corresponding to predicted epitopes were synthesized and immunoreactivity assessed by ELISA using individual and pooled patients'' sera.

Result

The homology model showed GroES like catalytic domain joined to Rossmann superfamily domain by an alpha helix. Stereochemical quality was confirmed by Procheck which showed 90% residues in most favorable region of Ramachandran plot while Errat gave a quality score of 92.733%. Six B cell (P1–P6) and four T cell (P7–P10) epitopes were predicted by a combination of methods. Peptide P2 (epitope P2) showed E(X)₂GGP(X)₃KKI conserved pattern among allergens of pathogenesis related family. It was predicted as high affinity binder based on electronegativity and low hydrophobicity. The computational methods employed were validated using Bet v 1 and Der p 2 allergens where 67% and 60% of the epitope residues were predicted correctly. Among B cell epitopes, Peptide P2 showed maximum IgE binding with individual and pooled patients'' sera (mean OD 0.604±0.059 and 0.506±0.0035, respectively) followed by P1, P4 and P3 epitopes. All T cell epitopes showed lower IgE binding.

Conclusion

Four B cell epitopes of C. lunata ADH were identified. Peptide P2 can serve as a potential candidate for diagnosis of allergic diseases.     

Development of a Genus-Specific Antigen Capture ELISA for Orthopoxviruses – Target Selection and Optimized Screening

Orthopoxvirus species like cowpox, vaccinia and monkeypox virus cause zoonotic infections in humans worldwide. Infections often occur in rural areas lacking proper diagnostic infrastructure as exemplified by monkeypox, which is endemic in Western and Central Africa. While PCR detection requires demanding equipment and is restricted to genome detection, the evidence of virus particles can complement or replace PCR. Therefore, an easily distributable and manageable antigen capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of orthopoxviruses was developed to facilitate particle detection. By comparing the virus particle binding properties of polyclonal antibodies developed against surface-exposed attachment or fusion proteins, the surface protein A27 was found to be a well-bound, highly immunogenic and exposed target for antibodies aiming at virus particle detection. Subsequently, eight monoclonal anti-A27 antibodies were generated and characterized by peptide epitope mapping and surface plasmon resonance measurements. All antibodies were found to bind with high affinity to two epitopes at the heparin binding site of A27, toward either the N- or C-terminal of the crucial KKEP-segment of A27. Two antibodies recognizing different epitopes were implemented in an antigen capture ELISA. Validation showed robust detection of virus particles from 11 different orthopoxvirus isolates pathogenic to humans, with the exception of MVA, which is apathogenic to humans. Most orthopoxviruses could be detected reliably for viral loads above 1 × 10³ PFU/mL. To our knowledge, this is the first solely monoclonal and therefore reproducible antibody-based antigen capture ELISA able to detect all human pathogenic orthopoxviruses including monkeypox virus, except variola virus which was not included. Therefore, the newly developed antibody-based assay represents important progress towards feasible particle detection of this important genus of viruses.     

Identification of two novel BTV16-specific B cell epitopes using monoclonal antibodies against the VP2 protein

The VP2 protein of bluetongue virus (BTV) is an important structural protein and is the principal antigen responsible for BTV serotype specificity. In this study, we mapped the reactivity of two BTV16-specific monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) and identified two novel serotype-specific linear B cell epitopes on the BTV16 VP2 protein. By screening a series of peptides derived from the BTV16 VP2 protein and expressed as mannose-binding protein fusions, we determined that the linear epitopes recognized by the VP2-specific MAbs 3 G10 and 2B4 were located within the peptides ₃₄EWSGHDVTEIPNRRMF₄₉ and ₅₄₀KNEDPYVKRTVKPIRA₅₅₅, respectively. To define the minimal region required for antibody binding within these peptide regions, a series of progressively shorter peptides were synthesized and evaluated for 3 G10 and 2B4 binding. This work defined the motifs ₃₄EWSGHDVTEIPNRRMF₄₉ and ₅₄₃DPYVKRTVK₅₅₅ as the minimal linear peptides required for 3 G10 and 2B4 binding, respectively. Alignment of amino acid sequences from a number of BTV16 strains isolated from different regions indicated that these two epitopes are highly conserved among BTV16 strains. Furthermore, these two epitopes are not conserved among other BTV serotypes or prototype members of the genus Orbivirus in the family Reoviridae, as shown by sequence alignments. The MAb reagents and linear epitopes defined here provide the basis for the development of epitope-based serotype-specific differential diagnostic tools and may be useful in the design of epitope-based vaccines.     

Glycosylation of synthetic peptides breaks helices. Phosphorylation results in distorted structure.

Two proposed glycosylation sites are located within T cell epitopes of rabies virus glycoprotein, namely VVEDEGCTNLSGF (VF13; amino acids 29-41) and GKAYTIFNKTLM (GM12; amino acids 312-323). To explore the effects on peptide conformation due to post-translational modifications, we synthesized glycosylated and phosphorylated versions of the two peptides and compared their structures with the native peptide using CD and FT-IR spectroscopy. After the modifications, i.e., glycosylation on Asn with one or two N-acetyl-glucosamine or glucose residues or phosphorylation on Ser, the low to medium degree of helicity of the unmodified peptides disappears as indicated by CD measurements in water-trifluoroethanol mixtures. Incorporation of one sugar moiety into either peptide resulted with a high probability in a type I (III) beta-turn formation with almost identical spectra for the different peptides. Elongation of the carbohydrate in GM12 only slightly enhanced this effect. In contrast, phosphorylation of VF13 caused distorted conformation of the peptide backbone. This novel and direct demonstration of a change in secondary structure by glycosylation (or phosphorylation) might be an important element in determining peptide antigen structure and function.     

Expression of genes for orthopoxviral TNF-binding proteins in insect cells and investigation of the recombinant TNF-binding proteins

Genes for TNF-binding proteins (CrmBs) of the variola virus (VARV), monkeypox virus (MPXV) or cowpox virus (CPXV) were isolated by PCR from viral genomes and expressed in a baculovirus system in the Sf21 insect cell line. Properties of the purified recombinant proteins were studied by various physicochemical and immunological methods. Using solid-phase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, it was shown that viral proteins inhibited hTNF binding with polyclonal anti-hTNF antibodies, with the efficiency of inhibition decreasing in the series VARV-CrmB > CPXV-CrmB > MPXV-CrmB. Biological activity of the recombinant protein preparations was assessed by their ability to neutralize TNF cytotoxicity on the L929 murine fibroblast cells line. CrmBs were shown to neutralize cytotoxicity of human, mouse, and rabbit TNF in a species-specific manner. It was also shown that the efficiency of VARV-CrmB in inhibiting hTNF cytotoxicity exceeded that of polyclonal anti-hTNF antibodies. Orthopoxviral CrmB proteins can provide a basis for development of new anti-TNF drugs.__________Translated from Molekulyarnaya Biologiya, Vol. 39, No. 2, 2005, pp. 245–254.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Gileva, Ryazankin, Nepomnyashchikh, Totmenin, Maxutov, Lebedev, Afinogenova, Pustoshilova, Shchelkunov.     

Recombinant TNF-binding protein from variola virus as a novel potential TNF antagonist

Gel-filtration chromatographic separation of the lysate of Sf21 insect cells infected with recombinant baculovirus BVi67 containing the gene for TNF-binding protein (CrmB) of variola virus (VARV) revealed that hTNF-cytotoxicity neutralization activity is associated with a fraction corresponding mainly to high molecular weight proteins (above 500 kDa) and less with fractions corresponding to proteins of 270 or 90 kDa. The recombinant VARV-CrmB protein has been purified by affinity chromatography. Difference in the experimentally determined and estimated (according to amino acid composition) VARV-CrmB molecular weight is due to glycosylation of the recombinant protein expressed in the insect cells. VARV-CrmB neutralizes in vitro the cytotoxic effect of hTNF and hLTα, and its TNF-neutralizing activity is two to three orders of magnitude higher compared to the analogous effects of type I and II soluble TNF receptors, comparable with the activity of mAb MAK195, and somewhat lower than the effect of the commercial drug Remicade.