Clostridium difficile is the leading cause of death from gastrointestinal infections in Canada. Current antiobiotic treatment is non-ideal due to the high incidence of relapse and the rise in hyper-virulent antibiotic-resistant strains. Surface layer proteins (SLPs) cover the entire bacterial surface and mediate adherence to host cells. Passive and active immunization against SLPs greatly enhances survival in hamsters, suggesting that antibody-mediated bacterial neutralization may be an effective alternative therapeutic strategy. Using a recombinant-antibody phage display library, and SLPs from strain QCD 32g58 as bait antigen, we isolated and extensively characterized 11 SLP-specific recombinant single-domain antibodies (sdAbs), in terms of affinity and specificity, intrinsic stability, and ability to inhibit cell motility. Several sdAbs exhibit promising characteristics for a potential oral therapeutic based on their high affinity, high thermal stability, and resistance to pepsin digestion. Our study provides the basis of a proof-of-principle model with which to develop specific, broadly neutralizing and intrinsically stable antibodies for the oral therapy of C. difficile infections, as an alternative to conventional antibiotic treatment.

Clostridium difficile is the leading cause of death from gastrointestinal infections in Canada. Current antiobiotic treatment is non-ideal due to the high incidence of relapse and the rise in hyper-virulent antibiotic-resistant strains. Surface layer proteins (SLPs) cover the entire bacterial surface and mediate adherence to host cells. Passive and active immunization against SLPs greatly enhances survival in hamsters, suggesting that antibody-mediated bacterial neutralization may be an effective alternative therapeutic strategy. Using a recombinant-antibody phage display library, and SLPs from strain QCD 32g58 as bait antigen, we isolated and extensively characterized 11 SLP-specific recombinant single-domain antibodies (sdAbs), in terms of affinity and specificity, intrinsic stability, and ability to inhibit cell motility. Several sdAbs exhibit promising characteristics for a potential oral therapeutic based on their high affinity, high thermal stability, and resistance to pepsin digestion. Our study provides the basis of a proof-of-principle model with which to develop specific, broadly neutralizing and intrinsically stable antibodies for the oral therapy of C. difficile infections, as an alternative to conventional antibiotic treatment.

No description available.

<p>  </p> <p>Adoptive cell transfer of chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) T cells has successfully targeted hematological malignancies in human patients. However, unpredicted side effects experienced after injection of the CAR T cells suggests the need for an optimal predictive preclinical animal model. Dogs have intact immune systems and develop solid tumors spontaneously with similar morphology and genetics to humans. I hypothesize that generating CAR T cells for dogs will closely mimic human patients' outcomes, thus providing new understandings of the safety of this immunotherapy. In addition to the dog as a preclinical model, we propose using a universal CAR T cell to overcome various tumor-related immunosuppressive challenges and control the killing of the target cells. To achieve this, we established methods for activating and expanding canine T cells to a clinically relevant scale. Then, we expressed a second-generation anti-FITC-8-41BB-ζ CAR T cell via lentiviral transduction. In the presence of the correct low-molecular-weight bispecific adapter, we showed <em>in-vitro</em> CAR-mediated function. Our results proved that it is feasible to generate functional canine anti-FITC-8-BB-ζ CAR T cells for therapy.</p>

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The IgG Fc domain mediates a range of antibody effector functions, including antibody dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC), complement activation, phagocytosis, and the recently emerged general anti-inflammatory effect of immunoglobulin therapy (IVIg). The conserved N-glycan attached to Fc N297 maintains the Fc structural integrity for the effector functions, while its glycoform is known to modulate the affinity for the Fc γ-receptors (FcγRs), complement, and the C-type lectin DC-SIGN. IgG Fc exhibits protein-directed glycosylation characterized by a series of biantennary complex type glycoforms, with a small population of sialylated species. The sialylated Fc has been proposed to bind DC-SIGN and initiate an anti-inflammatory signalling pathway. The restricted Fc glycan processing is partially attributed to the hydrophobic interaction between Fc glycan and the hydrophobic Fc protein backbone. Mutations within the hydrophobic Fc protein-glycan interface dramatically increases Fc glycan processing, while concomitantly decreases Fc affinity for the FcγRs. However, it is unclear whether this disrupted Fc-FcγR interaction was due to the increased terminal glycan processing, or the perturbed Fc protein-glycan interface. Here, the integrity of the Fc protein-glycan interface was demonstrated to be important in maintaining the productive Fc-FcγR interaction independently of glycoform. This glycoform-independent effect was exploited to generate novel inhibitory Fc variants. In addition, the interaction between sialylated IgG and the putative IVIg receptor DC-SIGN was re-evaluated. Analysis shows that IVIg binds DC-SIGN in a glycan-independent, Fab-mediated manner. Furthermore, the effect of IVIg sialylation on human antigen presenting cells was examined; evidence presented here indicate that IVIg deglycosylation, not desialylation, has an anti-inflammatory effect on human dendritic cells (DCs). These data suggest the need for a general re-evaluation of the current mechanistic model of anti-inflammatory IVIg.

Antibodies have become indispensable tools in diagnostics, research and as therapeutics. There are several strategies to generate monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) in order to avoid the drawbacks of polyclonal antibodies (pAbs) for therapeutic use. Moreover, the growing interest in precision medicine requires a well-characterized target and antibody to predict the responsiveness of a treatment. This thesis describes the use of epitope information and display technologies to generate and characterize antibodies. In Paper I, we evaluated if the epitope information of a well-characterized pAb could be used to generate mAbs with retained binding characteristics. In Paper II, the epitope on the complement protein C5 towards Eculizumab was mapped with surface display, the results of which explained the non-responsiveness of Eculizumab treatment among a patient group due to a mutated C5 gene. With this in mind, we showed efficacy in treatment of the mutated C5 variants using a drug binding to another site on C5, suggesting that our approach can be used to guide treatment in precision medicine. In Paper III, a Gram-positive bacterial display platform was evaluated to complement existing platforms for selection of human scFv libraries. When combined with phage display, a thorough library screening and isolation of nano-molar binders was possible. In Paper IV, a solid phase method for directed mutagenesis was developed to generate functional affinity maturation libraries by simultaneous targeting of all six CDRs. The method was also used to create numerous individual mutants to map the paratope of the parent scFv. The paratope information was used to create directed libraries and deep sequencing of the affinity maturation libraries confirmed the viability of the combination approach. Taken together, precise epitope/paratope information together with display technologies have the potential to generate attractive therapeutic antibodies and direct treatment in precision medicine. / <p>QC 20170418</p>

<div>Cancer is responsible for the second highest cause of death in the United States, and lung cancer accounts for 13% of new cancer diagnoses, with the highest rate of cancer death at 24%. Almost 85% of these cases represent non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which includes lung adenocarcinoma, the most common NSCLC subtype. Traditional cancer treatments often only temporarily stop the spread of the disease, but immunotherapies, which are becoming a standard of care, are much more promising. Natural killer (NK) cells are powerful effectors of innate immunity, and genetically engineered NK cells as immunotherapies have had encouraging clinical responses in the treatment of various cancers. However, more progress is needed for solid tumor treatment, especially for lung adenocarcinoma. The activation of cancer-associated ectoenzymes, CD39 and CD73 catalyze the phosphorylation of ATP to AMP to produce extracellular adenosine (ADO), which is a highly immunosuppressive mechanism contributing to the pathogenesis of solid tumors. Understanding adenosine effects on NK cells will help develop more robust immunotherapeutic treatments to improve cytotoxicity against solid tumors. Here, we established that tumor microenvironment ADO results in impaired metabolic and anti-tumor functions of cytokine-primed NK cells. Specifically, peripheral blood-derived NK cells stimulated with IL-2, IL-15, or a combination of IL-12 and IL-15 showed suppressed anti-tumor immunity due to ADO. This was observed by the downregulation of activation receptor expression, cytotoxicity inhibition, impairment of metabolic activity, and alterations in gene expression. To target ADO-producing CD73 on cancer cells, we redirected NK cells by fusing CD73 ScFv with intracellular and transmembrane regions of NK cell specific signaling components derived from FCyRIIIa (CD16). Engineered NK cells were shown to be cytotoxic against lung adenocarcinoma <i>in vitro</i> and impede tumor growth in a lung adenocarcinoma mouse model <i>in vivo</i>. Engineered cells also had higher levels of degranulation and cytokine release, as well as more infiltration into tumors and longer survival time in mice. In summary, the microenvironment of solid tumors is highly immunosupressive, and redirecting NK cell function using a NK-specific anti-CD73 targeting construct will help to promote anti-tumor immunity and</div><div>inhibit cancer growth for a potentially powerful new immunotherapy against solid tumors.</div>

Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Ng) which causes gonorrhea has become multidrug-resistant, necessitating the development of novel therapeutics and vaccines. mAb 2C7 which targets an epitope within an important virulence factor, the lipooligosaccharide (LOS), is a candidate therapeutic mAb. Ninety-four percent of clinical isolates express the 2C7-epitope which is also a vaccine target. Ng expresses multiple LOS(s) due to phase-variation (pv) of LOS glycosyltransferase (lgt) genes. mAb 2C7 reactivity requires a lactose extension from the LOS core Heptose (Hep) II (i.e. lgtG ‘ON’ [G+]). Pv results in HepI with: two (2-), three (3-), four (4-), or five (5-) hexoses (Hex). How HepI glycans impact Ng infectivity and mAb 2C7 function are unknown and form the bases of this dissertation. Using isogenic mutants, I demonstrate that HepI LOS glycans modulate mAb 2C7 binding. mAb 2C7 causes complement (C’)-dependent bacteriolysis of three (2-Hex/G+, 4-Hex/G+, and 5-Hex/G+) of the HepI mutants in vitro. The 3-Hex/G+ mutant (resistant to C’-dependent bacteriolysis) is killed by neutrophils in the presence of mAb and C’. In mice, 2- and 3-Hex/G+ infections are significantly shorter than 4- and 5-Hex/G+ infections. A chimeric mAb 2C7 that hyperactivates C’, attenuates only 4- and 5-Hex/G+ infections. This study enhances understanding of the role of HepI LOS pv in gonococcal infections and shows that longer HepI glycans are necessary for prolonged infections in vivo. This is the first study that predicts in vitro efficacy of mAb 2C7 against all four targetable HepI glycans thereby strengthening the rationale for development of 2C7-epitope based vaccines and therapeutics.