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Local manufacturing of protein-based vaccines and therapies in Africa is limited and contributes to a trade deficit, security of supply concerns and poor access to biopharmaceuticals by the poor. Plant molecular farming is a potential technology solution that has received growing adoption by African scientists attracted by the potential for the competitive cost of goods, safety and efficacy. Plant-made pharmaceutical technologies for veterinary and human vaccination and treatment of non-communicable and infectious diseases are available at different stages of development in Africa. There is also growth in the translation of these technologies to commercial operations. Africa is poised to benefit from the real-world impact of molecular farming in the next few years.

Aims To investigate the production of soluble Cross-Reacting Material 197 (CRM197) in Escherichia coli, a safe and effective T-cell dependent protein carrier for polysaccharides used in the manufacture and application of multivalent conjugate vaccines. Methods and Results The use of co-expression of a sulfhydryl oxidase and protein disulfide isomerase for the production of soluble CRM197 in E. coli is described. CRM197 contains two disulfide bonds, which are normally unable to form in the reducing environment of the E. coli cytoplasm. It was found that co-expression yielded soluble CRM197, at a production rate ~10% of the production of insoluble CRM197, in equivalent small-scale cultures. Structural analysis of the purified CRM197 compared to CRM197 commercially produced in cultures of recombinant Pseudomonas fluorescens indicated that the E. coli soluble protein compares favorably on all structural levels. Conclusions Sulfhydryl oxidase and protein disulfide isomerase are enzymes involved in the formation of intra-protein disulfide bonds, and can influence the tertiary structure of the protein being produced, resulting in increased solubility due to the correct folding of the protein. Their use enabled the production of soluble untagged CRM197 in E. coli, which was previously unachievable. Significance and Impact of Study Previous literature reports have shown that CRM197 can be expressed in Escherichia coli, though only in an insoluble form, or in soluble form as a fusion protein. It is currently commercially produced in cultures of recombinant Pseudomonas fluorescens. The use of a widely-used, well-characterized expression host such as E. coli, rather than P. fluorescens broadens the applicability of the production technology, and the production system described here is worthy of further investigation for scaled up manufacture of CRM197. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Rabies is an acute viral encephalomyelitis in warm-blooded vertebrates, caused by viruses belonging to Rhabdovirus family and genus Lyssavirus. Although rabies is categorised as a neglected disease, the rabies virus (RABV) is the most studied amongst Lyssaviruses which show nearly identical infection patterns. In efforts to improving post-exposure prophylaxis, several anti-rabies monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting the glycoprotein (G protein) sites I, II, III and G5 have been characterized. To explore cross-neutralization capacity of available mAbs and discover new possible B-cell epitopes, we have analyzed all available glycoprotein sequences from Lyssaviruses with a focus on sequence variation and conservation. This information was mapped on the structure of a representative G protein. We proposed several possible cross-neutralizing B-cell epitopes (GUVTTTF, WLRTV, REECLD and EHLVVEEL) in complement to the already well-characterized antigenic sites. The research could facilitate development of novel cross-reactive mAbs against RABV and even more broad, against possibly all Lyssavirus members.

The application of database search algorithms with very wide precursor mass tolerances for the “Open Search” paradigm has brought new efforts at post-translational modification discovery in shotgun proteomes. This approach has motivated the acceleration of database search tools by incorporating fragment indexing features. In this report, we compare open searches and sequence tag searches of high-resolution tandem mass spectra to seek a common “palette” of modifications when analyzing multiple formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues from Thermo Q-Exactive and SCIEX TripleTOF instruments. While open search in MSFragger produced some gains in identified spectra, careful FDR control limited the best result to 24% more spectra than narrow search (worst result: a loss of 9%). Open pFind produced high apparent sensitivity for PSMs, but entrapment sequences hinted that the actual error rate may be higher than reported by the software. Combining sequence tagging, open search, and chemical knowledge, we converged on this set of PTMs for our four FFPE sets: mono- and di-methylation (nTerm and Lys), single and double oxidation (Met and Pro), and variable carbamidomethylation (nTerm and Cys).

Physical and biochemical analysis of protein polymorphisms in seed storage proteins of a mutant population of sorghum revealed a mutant with redirected accumulation of kafirin proteins in the germ. The change in storage proteins was accompanied by an unusually high level accumulation of free lysine and other essential amino acids in the endosperm. This mutant further displayed a significant suppression in the synthesis and accumulation of the 27 kDa γ-, 24 kDa α-A1 and the 22 kDa α-A2 kafirins in the endosperm. The suppression of kafirins was counteracted by an upsurge in the synthesis and accumulation of albumins, globulins and other proteins. The data collectively suggest that sorghum has huge genetic potential for nutritional biofortification and that induced mutations can be used as an effective tool in achieving premium nutrition in staple cereals.

Rabies is a neglected zoonotic disease that has no effective treatment after onset of illness. However the disease can be prevented effectively by prompt administration of post exposure prophylaxis which includes administration of passive immunizing antibodies (Rabies Immune Globulin, RIG). Currently, human RIG suffers from many restrictions including limited availability, batch-to batch inconsistencies and potential for contamination with blood-borne pathogens. Anti-rabies monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have been identified as a promising alternative to RIG. Here, we applied a plant-based transient expression system to achieve rapid, high level production and efficacy of the two highly potent anti-rabies mAbs E559 and 62-71-3. Expression levels of up to 490 mg/kg of recombinant mAbs were obtained in Nicotiana benthamiana glycosylation mutants by using a viral based transient expression system. The plant-made E559 and 62-71-3, carrying human-type fucose-free N-glycans, assembled properly and were structurally sound as determined by mass spectrometry and calorimetric density measurements. Both mAbs efficiently neutralised diverse rabies virus variants in vitro. Importantly, E559 and 62-71-3 exhibited enhanced protection against rabies virus compared to human RIG in a hamster model post-exposure challenge trial. Collectively, our results provide the basis for the development of a multi-mAb based alternative to RIG.