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Antibodies (Basel). 2018 Dec 20;8(1). pii: E1. doi: 10.3390/antib8010001.
Single-Domain Antibodies and Their Formatting to Combat Viral Infections.
De Vlieger D1,2, Ballegeer M3,4, Rossey I5,6, Schepens B7,8, Saelens X9,10.
Author information
1 VIB Center for Medical Biotechnology, 9052 Ghent, Belgium. dorien.devlieger@vib-ugent.be. 2 Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, 9052 Ghent, Belgium. dorien.devlieger@vib-ugent.be. 3 VIB Center for Medical Biotechnology, 9052 Ghent, Belgium. marlies.ballegeer@vib-ugent.be. 4 Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, 9052 Ghent, Belgium. marlies.ballegeer@vib-ugent.be. 5 VIB Center for Medical Biotechnology, 9052 Ghent, Belgium. Iebe.rossey@vib-ugent.be. 6 Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, 9052 Ghent, Belgium. Iebe.rossey@vib-ugent.be. 7 VIB Center for Medical Biotechnology, 9052 Ghent, Belgium. bert.schepens@vib-ugent.be. 8 Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, 9052 Ghent, Belgium. bert.schepens@vib-ugent.be. 9 VIB Center for Medical Biotechnology, 9052 Ghent, Belgium. xavier.saelens@vib-ugent.be. 10 Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, 9052 Ghent, Belgium. xavier.saelens@vib-ugent.be.
Abstract
Since their discovery in the 1990s, single-domain antibodies (VHHs), also known as Nanobodies?, have changed the landscape of affinity reagents. The outstanding solubility, stability, and specificity of VHHs, as well as their small size, ease of production and formatting flexibility favor VHHs over conventional antibody formats for many applications. The exceptional ease by which it is possible to fuse VHHs with different molecular modules has been particularly explored in the context of viral infections. In this review, we focus on VHH formats that have been developed to combat viruses including influenza viruses, human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1), and human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Such formats may significantly increase the affinity, half-life, breadth of protection of an antiviral VHH and reduce the risk of viral escape. In addition, VHHs can be equipped with effector functions, for example to guide components of the immune system with high precision to sites of viral infection.
KEYWORDS:
Fc-domain; formatting; half-life; nanobody; virus
PMID: 31544807 DOI: 10.3390/antib8010001
Single-Domain Antibodies and Their Formatting to Combat Viral Infections.
De Vlieger D1,2, Ballegeer M3,4, Rossey I5,6, Schepens B7,8, Saelens X9,10.
Author information
1 VIB Center for Medical Biotechnology, 9052 Ghent, Belgium. dorien.devlieger@vib-ugent.be. 2 Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, 9052 Ghent, Belgium. dorien.devlieger@vib-ugent.be. 3 VIB Center for Medical Biotechnology, 9052 Ghent, Belgium. marlies.ballegeer@vib-ugent.be. 4 Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, 9052 Ghent, Belgium. marlies.ballegeer@vib-ugent.be. 5 VIB Center for Medical Biotechnology, 9052 Ghent, Belgium. Iebe.rossey@vib-ugent.be. 6 Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, 9052 Ghent, Belgium. Iebe.rossey@vib-ugent.be. 7 VIB Center for Medical Biotechnology, 9052 Ghent, Belgium. bert.schepens@vib-ugent.be. 8 Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, 9052 Ghent, Belgium. bert.schepens@vib-ugent.be. 9 VIB Center for Medical Biotechnology, 9052 Ghent, Belgium. xavier.saelens@vib-ugent.be. 10 Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, 9052 Ghent, Belgium. xavier.saelens@vib-ugent.be.
Abstract
Since their discovery in the 1990s, single-domain antibodies (VHHs), also known as Nanobodies?, have changed the landscape of affinity reagents. The outstanding solubility, stability, and specificity of VHHs, as well as their small size, ease of production and formatting flexibility favor VHHs over conventional antibody formats for many applications. The exceptional ease by which it is possible to fuse VHHs with different molecular modules has been particularly explored in the context of viral infections. In this review, we focus on VHH formats that have been developed to combat viruses including influenza viruses, human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1), and human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Such formats may significantly increase the affinity, half-life, breadth of protection of an antiviral VHH and reduce the risk of viral escape. In addition, VHHs can be equipped with effector functions, for example to guide components of the immune system with high precision to sites of viral infection.
KEYWORDS:
Fc-domain; formatting; half-life; nanobody; virus
PMID: 31544807 DOI: 10.3390/antib8010001