Small antibodies are used to search for therapeutic targets

Now, in an article published online in the journal Nature Microbiology, researchers at Whitehead Institute scientists have identified how to use VHHs or nanobodies to disturb certain cellular processes in mammalian cells in order to prevent certain infections.

VHHs, the so-called single-domain antibodies, are derived from the heavy chain-only antibodies made by the immune systems of animals in the camelid family. These molecules are small, highly specific in what they recognize, and sturdy enough to function in the environment of the cytosol.

Alpacas, which are members of the camelid family, produce an unusual type of antibody that is particularly useful in developing effective, inexpensive antitoxin agents. A small piece of the camelid antibody — called a VHH — can bind to and neutralize the botulism toxin.

Generally, genetic methods and small molecules are used to suppress the function of protein. But these approaches have their shortcomings. Genetic alterations sometimes can lead to unintended phenotypes.

In molecular biology and pharmacology, a small molecule is a low molecular weight organic compound that may help regulate a biological process. Most drugs are small molecules.

Hidde Ploegh, one of the researchers, said that their approach is significant. With the help of the approach, scientists can work in a wild-type protein environment. The researchers developed a screening strategy, which is based on VHHs. Previously, they used nanobodies to image the immune system’s function in real-time. Moreover, Ploegh and his lab members used VHHs to explore the mode of action of a key enzyme that Toxoplasma gondii parasite use to infect host cells.

Now, the research team devised a rational screening method and found nanobodies that decrease the ability of influenza A virus (IAV) and vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) to infect cells. The lead researcher, Florian Schmidt, noted that the medthod can rapidly identify inhibitors of essentially any biological process. This method can be used to investigate the surfaces of many proteins, solve the proteins’ structure, and identify which areas are crucial to the function. Furthermore, the regions where VHHs bind to proteins may serve as therapeutic targets. Cusabio offers mouse polyclonal antibody, welcome to visit our website to find the product you need.