INVESTIGADORES
ALZOGARAY Vanina Andrea
artículos
Título:
Single domain antibodies: promising experimental and therapeutic tools in infection and immunity
Autor/es:
WESOLOWSKI J, ALZOGARAY V, REYELT J, UNGER M, JUAREZ K, URRUTIA M, CAUERHFF A, DANQUAH W, RISSIEK B, SCHEUPLEIN F, SCHWARZ N, ADRIOUCH S, BOYER O, SEMAN M, LICEA A, SERREZE DV, GOLDBAUM FA, HAAG F, KOCH-NOLTE F.
Revista:
MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND IMMUNOLOGY
Editorial:
Springer
Referencias:
Año: 2009 vol. 198 p. 157 - 174
ISSN:
0300-8584
Resumen:
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Antibodies are important tools for experimental
research and medical applications. Most antibodies are composed
of two heavy and two light chains. Both chains contribute
to the antigen-binding site which is usually Xat or
concave. In addition to these conventional antibodies, llamas,
other camelids, and sharks also produce antibodies composed
only of heavy chains. The antigen-binding site of these
unusual heavy chain antibodies (hcAbs) is formed only by a
single domain, designated VHH in camelid hcAbs and
VNAR in shark hcAbs. VHH and VNAR are easily produced
as recombinant proteins, designated single domain antibodies
(sdAbs) or nanobodies. The CDR3 region of these sdAbs
possesses the extraordinary capacity to form long Wngerlike
extensions that can extend into cavities on antigens, e.g., the
active site crevice of enzymes. Other advantageous features
of nanobodies include their small size, high solubility, thermal
stability, refolding capacity, and good tissue penetration
in vivo. Here we review the results of several recent proofof-
principle studies that open the exciting perspective of
using sdAbs for modulating immune functions and for targeting
toxins and microbes.