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Engineering a single-chain antibody against Trypanosoma cruzi metacyclic trypomastigotes to block cell invasion

Lara Maria Kalempa Demeu1, Rodrigo Jahn Soares1,2, Juliana Severo Miranda2

  • 1Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Setor de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Paraná,Curitiba, Brasil.

Plos One
|October 17, 2019
PubMed

Insights

A novel molecule, scFv-10D8, effectively targets Trypanosoma cruzi surface proteins, significantly reducing parasite invasion. This offers a new strategy for Chagas disease control by targeting vectors.

Area of Science:

  • Parasitology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Immunotechnology

Background:

  • Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, lacks preventive treatments and effective drugs beyond the acute phase.
  • There is a critical need for innovative methods to interrupt disease transmission in endemic regions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To engineer and characterize a novel recombinant molecule, scFv-10D8, for targeting Trypanosoma cruzi surface proteins.
  • To evaluate the efficacy of scFv-10D8 in inhibiting parasite invasion.

Main Methods:

  • Engineered a single-chain variable fragment (scFv-10D8) targeting the gp35/50 surface protein.
  • Expressed scFv-10D8 in a prokaryotic system and purified the protein.
  • Assessed binding affinity using Western blot and evaluated invasion inhibition of metacyclic trypomastigotes.

Main Results:

  • Purified scFv-10D8 demonstrated specific binding to gp35/50 on Trypanosoma cruzi.
  • Pre-incubation with scFv-10D8 significantly reduced the parasite's cell invasion capacity.

Conclusions:

  • scFv-10D8 shows potential for paratransgenic strategies to target parasites within insect vectors.
  • This functional molecule offers a promising avenue for developing alternative Chagas disease control strategies.

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