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The sialic acid present in the protective surface mucin coat of Trypanosoma cruzi is added by a membrane anchored trans-sialidase (TcTS), a modified sialidase that is expressed from a large gene family. In this work, we analyzed single domain camelid antibodies produced against trans-sialidase. Llamas were immunized with a recombinant trans-sialidase and inhibitory single-domain antibody fragments were obtained by phage display selection, taking advantage of a screening strategy using an inhibition test instead of the classic binding assay. Four single domain antibodies displaying strong trans-sialidase inhibition activity against the recombinant enzyme were identified. They share the same complementarity-determining region 3 length (17 residues) and have very similar sequences. This result indicates that they likely derived from a unique clone. Probably there is only one structural solution for tight binding inhibitory antibodies against the TcTS used for immunization. To our surprise, this single domain antibody that inhibits the recombinant TcTS, failed to inhibit the enzymatic activity present in parasite extracts. Analysis of individual recombinant trans-sialidases showed that enzymes expressed from different genes were inhibited to different extents (from 8 to 98%) by the llama antibodies. Amino acid changes at key positions are likely to be responsible for the differences in inhibition found among the recombinant enzymes. These results suggest that the presence of a large and diverse trans-sialidase family might be required to prevent the inhibitory response against this essential enzyme and might thus constitute a novel strategy of T. cruzi to evade the host immune system.

Levels of free anti-(xanthine oxidoreductase) (XOR) antibodies in the serum of normal healthy human subjects were determined, using both human and bovine enzyme as antigen, in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Levels of IgM class anti-(human XOR) antibodies were found to be particularly high (mean values representing approximately 3% of total IgM) and to be significantly higher than levels of IgM anti-(bovine XOR) antibodies, indicating that endogenous XOR, rather than ingested bovine milk XOR, is the immunogen. IgM anti-XOR antibody levels were significantly higher in women under 50 years than in age-matched men, or in older women. Levels of IgG class anti-XOR antibodies were much lower and showed no correlation with gender or age. Affinity-purified anti-(human XOR) antibodies only partially inhibited enzymic activities of XOR. The majority of both IgM and IgG anti-(human XOR) antibodies in serum occurred as immune complexes, suggesting that the specific antibodies have a protective role in removing potentially damaging XOR from the circulation.

Two peptides that correspond to sequences within the major 33-amino acid sequence recognized by human liver-kidney microsomal-1 autoantibodies were used to elicit antibodies in rabbits (four per peptide) against CYP2D6. Peptide 1(DPAQPPRDLTEAFLA) corresponded to amino acids 263-277, and peptide 2 (LLTEHRMTWDPAQPPRDLTE) corresponded to amino acids 254-273 of CYP2D6. The peptide-keyhole limpet hemocyanin conjugates elicited good immune responses against their respective peptides as judged by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (titers of 1/10,000 to 1/30,000). The antisera recognized CYP2D6 on Western blots and, to varying extents, inhibited recombinant CYP2D6 and liver microsomal CYP2D6 activity. Immunization with peptide 2 produced antisera with the greatest inhibitory potency. Antiserum from a rabbit (#236) immunized with peptide 2 inhibited up to 95% of dextromethorphan O-demethylase activity in human liver microsomes at the highest concentration tested (40% v/v) but did not significantly inhibit CYP1A2, CYP2C9, CYP2E1, or CYP3A4 marker activities. On Western blot, only a single immunoreactive protein comigrating with recombinant CYP2D6 was recognized. In liver microsomes from a CYP2D6-deficient individual, no proteins were recognized, and the antisera did not cross-react with recombinant CYP1A2, CYP2C9, CYP2E1, or CYP3A4. There was a significant correlation between the quantity of immunoreactive CYP2D6 as determined by immunoblotting with anti-peptide 2 antiserum and dextromethorphan O-demethylation in a panel of 10 human liver microsomes (r = 0.95). These data identify a peptide sequence (peptide 2) that can be used to raise antisera that specifically recognize and inhibit CYP2D6.

The interest in the inhibition of enzymes by their specific antibodies stems mainly from the fact that these systems can serve as suitable models in the study of neutralization of biologically active molecules in general. The interaction of enzymes with their specific antibodies generally leads to a reduction in their enzymatic activity. The mechanism of this inhibition is rarely a direct combination of the antibodies with the catalytic site, but is rather due to steric hindrance, namely, barring the access to the active site. In several systems the mechanism of the antibody effect is by conformational changes which it induces on the enzyme. In these cases, the interaction with the antibody may result either in inhibition or in enhancement of the enzymatic activity. In every instance, however, the effect of the antibody is dependent on its narrow specificity, namely, on the regions of the enzyme to which it is directed. The extent of inhibition or enhancement is, therefore, a reflection of the nature and distribution of the various antigenic determinants on the enzyme molecule. Antibodies specific exclusively to defined regions of an enzyme molecule can be prepared. This has been performed for both lysozyme and staphylococcal nuclease by two procedures: a) Selective separation of the relevant antibodies from the anti-enzyme serum by an immunoadsorbent containing a particular immunologically active fragment of the enzyme. b) The use of an isolated antigenic fragment of the enzyme, or a conjugate of it, for immunization. The antibodies thus prepared, specific toward a unique defined region of the lysozyme molecule (residues 60-83, denoted "loop") recognize the structural conformation of the fragment and are reactive with the intact enzyme molecule. Furthermore, a chemically synthesized loop-like derivative was proved immunologically identical with the natural fragment, and when forming a part of a completely synthetic conjugate, elicited conformation-specific antibodies, reactive with native lysozyme. These findings are relevant to the topic of an immunological approach to fertility control from two different viewpoints: In the first place they are informative regarding the specific inhibition by antibodies of sperm enzymes which partake in the fertilization process. Secondly, they encourage the synthetic approach for induction of an immune response toward hormones which are crucial in fertilization or implantation.