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Elongated Flexuous Plant Virus-Derived Nanoparticles Functionalized for Autoantibody Detection
Carmen Yuste-Calvo1, Mercedes López-Santalla2,3, Lucía Zurita4
1Centro de Biotecnología y Genómica de Plantas, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid-Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (CBGP, UPM-INIA), Campus Montegancedo, Autopista M-40, km 38. Pozuelo de Alarcón, 28223 Madrid, Spain. carmen.yus.cal@gmail.com.
Virus-like particles (VLPs) derived from Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) were engineered to detect autoantibodies against Hsp60 peptide. This novel biosensor demonstrates high sensitivity for autoimmune disease research.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Immunology
- Virology
Background:
- Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) virus-like particles (VLPs) are effective antibody sensors when functionalized with epitopes.
- Chaperonin Hsp60 is implicated in inflammation and autoimmune diseases, with antibodies against its peptides showing diagnostic potential, notably in multiple sclerosis.
- Existing immunoassay methods for detecting Hsp60 peptide antibodies lack the sensitivity required for detailed disease progression analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To genetically derivatize TuMV VLPs with an Hsp60 peptide to create a highly sensitive biosensor.
- To evaluate the sensing potency of the functionalized Hsp60-VLPs compared to conventional monoclonal antibody detection.
- To detect and analyze the dynamics of anti-Hsp60 autoantibodies during dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis in a mouse model.
Main Methods:
- Genetic engineering of TuMV VLPs to display Hsp60-derived peptides.
- Functionalization of Hsp60-VLPs with corresponding epitopes for enhanced antibody binding.
- Comparison of Hsp60-VLP sensing potency against monoclonal antibody-based immunoassays.
- Detection and longitudinal monitoring of anti-Hsp60 autoantibodies in mouse serum during DSS-induced colitis.
Main Results:
- The developed Hsp60-VLPs exhibited significantly increased sensing potency compared to conventional methods for detecting Hsp60 peptide antibodies.
- Autoantibodies against the Hsp60 peptide were successfully detected in an in vivo mouse model of DSS-induced colitis.
- Anti-Hsp60 autoantibody levels decreased during disease induction and increased during disease resolution, providing insights into disease progression.
Conclusions:
- Engineered Hsp60-VLPs offer a highly sensitive platform for detecting autoantibodies relevant to autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.
- The study provides a novel tool for analyzing autoantibody dynamics during disease progression, aiding in the understanding of Hsp60's role in inflammation.
- The hypersensitive detection enabled by functionalized VLPs allows for experimental testing of extended models involving Hsp60 and autoantibodies in inflammatory processes.
