Human single-chain antibodies that neutralize Pseudomonas aeruginosa-exotoxin A-mediated cellular apoptosis

Sci Rep. 2019 Oct 17;9(1):14928. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-51089-w.

Abstract

Targeting bacterial virulence factors directly provides a new paradigm for the intervention and treatment of bacterial diseases. Pseudomonas aeruginosa produces a myriad of virulence factors to cause fatal diseases in humans. In this study, human single-chain antibodies (HuscFvs) that bound to P. aeruginosa exotoxin A (ETA) were generated by phage display technology using recombinant ETA, ETA-subdomains and the synthetic peptide of the ETA-catalytic site as baits for selecting ETA-bound-phages from the human-scFv phage display library. ETA-bound HuscFvs derived from three phage-transfected E. coli clones neutralized the ETA-induced mammalian cell apoptosis. Computerized simulation demonstrated that these HuscFvs used several residues in their complementarity-determining regions (CDRs) to form contact interfaces with the critical residues in ETA-catalytic domain essential for ADP-ribosylation of eukaryotic elongation factor 2, which should consequently rescue ETA-exposed-cells from apoptosis. The HuscFv-treated ETA-exposed cells also showed decremented apoptosis-related genes, i.e., cas3 and p53. The effective HuscFvs have high potential for future evaluation in animal models and clinical trials as a safe, novel remedy for the amelioration of exotoxin A-mediated pathogenesis. HuscFvs may be used either singly or in combination with the HuscFv cognates that target other P. aeruginosa virulence factors as an alternative therapeutic regime for difficult-to-treat infections.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • ADP Ribose Transferases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • ADP Ribose Transferases / genetics
  • ADP Ribose Transferases / immunology
  • ADP Ribose Transferases / metabolism
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / immunology
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Bacterial Toxins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Bacterial Toxins / genetics
  • Bacterial Toxins / immunology
  • Bacterial Toxins / metabolism
  • Catalytic Domain / genetics
  • Complementarity Determining Regions / immunology
  • Complementarity Determining Regions / pharmacology
  • Exotoxins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Exotoxins / genetics
  • Exotoxins / immunology
  • Exotoxins / metabolism
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Peptide Library
  • Pseudomonas Infections / drug therapy*
  • Pseudomonas Infections / microbiology
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / drug effects*
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / immunology
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / pathogenicity
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa Exotoxin A
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Proteins / immunology
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Single-Chain Antibodies / immunology
  • Single-Chain Antibodies / pharmacology*
  • Single-Chain Antibodies / therapeutic use
  • Virulence Factors / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Virulence Factors / genetics
  • Virulence Factors / immunology
  • Virulence Factors / metabolism

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Bacterial Toxins
  • Complementarity Determining Regions
  • Exotoxins
  • Peptide Library
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Single-Chain Antibodies
  • Virulence Factors
  • ADP Ribose Transferases