The browser you are using is not supported by this website. All versions of Internet Explorer are no longer supported, either by us or Microsoft (read more here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/windows/end-of-ie-support).

Please use a modern browser to fully experience our website, such as the newest versions of Edge, Chrome, Firefox or Safari etc.

Photo of Tobias Ambjörnsson

Tobias Ambjörnsson

Senior lecturer

Photo of Tobias Ambjörnsson

A Predictive Model of Antibody Binding in the Presence of IgG-Interacting Bacterial Surface Proteins

Author

  • Vibha Kumra Ahnlide
  • Therese de Neergaard
  • Martin Sundwall
  • Tobias Ambjörnsson
  • Pontus Nordenfelt

Summary, in English

Many bacteria can interfere with how antibodies bind to their surfaces. This bacterial antibody targeting makes it challenging to predict the immunological function of bacteria-associated antibodies. The M and M-like proteins of group A streptococci (GAS) exhibit IgGFc-binding regions, which they use to reverse IgG binding orientation depending on the host environment. Unraveling the mechanism behind these binding characteristics may identify conditions under which bound IgG can drive an efficient immune response. Here, we have developed a biophysical model for describing these complex protein-antibody interactions. We show how the model can be used as a tool for studying the binding behavior of various IgG samples to M protein by performing in silico simulations and correlating this data with experimental measurements. Besides its use for mechanistic understanding, this model could potentially be used as a tool to aid in the development of antibody treatments. We illustrate this by simulating how IgG binding to GAS in serum is altered as specified amounts of monoclonal or pooled IgG is added. Phagocytosis experiments link this altered antibody binding to a physiological function and demonstrate that it is possible to predict the effect of an IgG treatment with our model. Our study gives a mechanistic understanding of bacterial antibody targeting and provides a tool for predicting the effect of antibody treatments in the presence of bacteria with IgG-modulating surface proteins.

Department/s

  • Quantitative immunobiology
  • Computational Biology and Biological Physics - Has been reorganised

Publishing year

2021

Language

English

Publication/Series

Frontiers in Immunology

Volume

12

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Frontiers Media S. A.

Topic

  • Infectious Medicine
  • Biophysics
  • Other Physics Topics

Keywords

  • antibody binding
  • antibody interactions
  • antibody treatment
  • biophysical model
  • group A Streptoccocus
  • M protein

Status

Published

Research group

  • Quantitative immunobiology

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1664-3224