Direct and indirect interactions in the recognition between a cross-neutralizing antibody and the four serotypes of dengue virus.

Dengue fever is the most important vector-borne viral disease. Four serotypes of dengue virus, DENV1 to DENV4, coexist. Secondary infection by a different serotype is a risk factor for severe dengue.

Aquaporins in the wild: natural genetic diversity and selective pressure in the PIP gene family in five Neotropical tree species.

Background: Tropical trees undergo severe stress through seasonal drought and flooding, and the ability of these species to respond may be a major factor in their survival in tropical ecosystems, particularly in relation to global climate change. Aquaporins are involved in the regulation of water flow and have been shown to be involved in drought response; they may therefore play a major adaptive role in these species. We describe genetic diversity in the PIP sub-family of the widespread gene family of Aquaporins in five Neotropical tree species covering four botanical families.

Diversity and junction residues as hotspots of binding energy in an antibody neutralizing the dengue virus.

Dengue is a re-emerging viral disease, affecting approx. 100 million individuals annually. The monoclonal antibody mAb4E11 neutralizes the four serotypes of the dengue virus, but not other flaviviruses.

Deriving topological constraints from functional data for the design of reagentless fluorescent immunosensors.

The possibility of obtaining, from any antibody, a fluorescent conjugate which responds to the binding of the antigen by a variation of fluorescence, would be of great interest in the micro- and nano-analytical sciences. This possibility was explored with antibody mAb4E11, which is directed against the dengue virus and for which no structural data is available. Three rules of design were developed to identify residues of the antibody to which a fluorophore could be chemically coupled, after changing them to cysteine by mutagenesis.

Harnessing malE for the study of antigen/antibody recognitions.

The construction of hybrids between the variable fragment (Fv) of antibodies and protein MalE of Escherichia coli at the genetic level makes possible their preparation in a functional state, independently of any interaction with the antigen. We used such hybrids and a mutagenesis approach to study the recognition between antibody D1.3 and its antigen lysozyme, and its maturation.

Knowledge-based design of reagentless fluorescent biosensors from recombinant antibodies.

The possibility of obtaining from any antibody a fluorescent conjugate which responds to the binding of the antigen by a variation of its fluorescence, would be of great interest in the analytical sciences and for the construction of protein chips. This possibility was explored with antibody mAbD1.3 directed against hen egg white lysozyme.