scholarly journals Impact of feline zona pellucida glycoprotein B-derived synthetic peptides on in vitro fertilization of cat oocytes

Reproduction ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 127 (2) ◽  
pp. 179-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Ringleb ◽  
Marlies Rohleder ◽  
Katarina Jewgenow

Although immunocontraception based on porcine zona pellucida (ZP) proteins is widely applied in many species, it is not suitable for cat contraception due to the lack of cross-reactivity. Since the first ZP gene expressed during oocyte growth in domestic cats is ZPB, we assumed that immunization with feline ZPB (fZPB)-derived synthetic peptides may cause irreversible infertility, which would be preferable in stray cats. Thus, the present study evaluated the immunogenicity and the contraceptive potential of synthetic fZPB peptides. Antigenic epitope sequences were detected via epitope mapping using specific rabbit anti-fZP antibodies. Six peptides representing the recognized epitopes were synthesized subsequently. Two out of six peptides (ZPB amino acid residue 130–149 = P3 and 175–193 = P6) cross-reacted with anti-fZP antiserum in dot blot analysis and ELISA. Coupled to BSA, both peptides were utilized to produce specific antibodies in rats. Despite several booster injections the antibody titers monitored by ELISA did not exceed 1:5000. Both rat antisera were tested for contraceptive potential in cat in vitro maturation/in vitro fertilization (IVF). Antiserum against peptide P3 significantly inhibited sperm binding and fertilization of cat oocytes in vitro (57.3% of sperm binding; 41.5% of fertilization), whereas the inhibition by anti-P6 was not significant. Pre-incubation of sperm cells with both peptides before IVF failed to affect either sperm binding or fertilization (22.3 ± 3.7 sperm/egg vs 25.5 ± 5.8 for P3 and 20.7 ± 4.0 for P6, respectively). In conclusion, antibodies directed against one of the two identified antigenic determinants of fZPB inhibited sperm binding and IVF and therefore showed promising results as a contraceptive. However, the specific immune response and anti-fertile properties of this synthetic vaccine have to be examined in vivo to verify the suitability of its components.

Reproduction ◽  
2000 ◽  
pp. 15-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Jewgenow ◽  
M Rohleder ◽  
I Wegner

Despite many efforts, the control of reproduction in feral cat populations is still a problem in urban regions around the world. Immunocontraception is a promising approach; thus the present study examined the suitability of the widely used pig zona pellucida proteins (pZP) for contraception in feral domestic cats. Purified zona pellucida proteins obtained from pig and cat ovaries were used to produce highly specific antisera in rabbits. Antibodies against pZP raised in rabbits or lions were not effective inhibitors of either in vitro sperm binding (cat spermatozoa to cat oocytes) or in vitro fertilization in cats, whereas antibodies against feline zona pellucida proteins (fZP) raised in rabbits showed a dose-dependent inhibition of in vitro fertilization. Immunoelectrophoresis, ELISA and immunohistology of ovaries confirmed these results, showing crossreactivity of anti-fZP sera to fZP and to a lesser extent to pZP, but no interaction of anti-pZP sera with fZP. It is concluded that cat and pig zonae pellucidae express a very small number of shared antigenic determinants, making the use of pZP vaccine in cats questionable. A contraceptive vaccine based on feline zona pellucida determinants will be a better choice for the control of reproduction in feral cats if immunogenity can be achieved.


Reproduction ◽  
2002 ◽  
pp. 307-313 ◽  
Author(s):  
C Gaudreault ◽  
L Montfort ◽  
R Sullivan

Despite the various contraceptive methods available, an effective and inexpensive method remains to be established. Immunocontraception may help to achieve this goal. P26h has been proposed as a candidate for the development of a male contraceptive vaccine. P26h, a hamster sperm protein, interacts with the zona pellucida. Furthermore, in vivo fertilization can be blocked completely by active immunization of male hamsters against P26h. Maltose binding protein (MBP)-P26 shares antigenic determinants with the native P26h present on cauda epididymal spermatozoa. The aim of the present study was to reproduce the immunocontraceptive properties of native P26h by immunizing male hamsters against a recombinant P26h fused with a maltose binding protein (MBP). Active immunization of male hamsters with the MBP-P26h showed that specific anti-P26h circulating IgGs could be generated. Mating of immunized male hamsters with superovulated females resulted in a significant decrease, 20-25%, in the fertilization rate. This result is in agreement with results from in vitro sperm-zona pellucida binding assays. Indeed, the anti-recombinant P26h IgGs showed lower inhibitory properties when compared with anti-native P26h IgG. Despite the high anti-P26h IgG titres generated in hamsters, histological studies showed that active immunization has no pathological sequelae to the reproductive tissues. The potential of P26h as a candidate for a contraceptive vaccine is discussed.


2005 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 352-362 ◽  
Author(s):  
Detlef Rath ◽  
Edda Töpfer-Petersen ◽  
Hans-Wilhelm Michelmann ◽  
Peter Schwartz ◽  
Silja Ebeling
Keyword(s):  

Development ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 125 (13) ◽  
pp. 2415-2424 ◽  
Author(s):  
T.L. Rankin ◽  
Z.B. Tong ◽  
P.E. Castle ◽  
E. Lee ◽  
R. Gore-Langton ◽  
...  

The mammalian zona pellucida surrounding ovulated eggs mediates sperm binding at fertilization, provides a postfertilization block to polyspermy, and facilitates passage of pre-implantation embryos down the oviduct. Although the three zona proteins (ZP1, ZP2, ZP3) are well conserved, mammalian fertilization is relatively specific and human sperm do not bind to the mouse zona pellucida. There are considerable in vitro data that ZP3 acts as a primary sperm adhesion molecule in mice and, by analogy, a similar role has been postulated for human ZP3. Genetically altered mice lacking ZP3 (Zp3(tm/tm)) do not form a zona pellucida and are infertile. To rescue this phenotype, transgenic mice expressing human ZP3 (67% identical to mouse ZP3) were produced and bred with Zp3(tm/tm) null mice. The resultant human ZP3 rescue females had chimeric zonae pellucidae composed of mouse ZP1, mouse ZP2 and human ZP3. Human ZP3 expressed in mouse oocytes had an apparent mass (64 kDa) indistinguishable from native human ZP3 and distinct from mouse ZP3 (83 kDa). Despite the presence of human ZP3, human sperm did not bind to the chimeric zona pellucida, and notwithstanding the absence of mouse ZP3, mouse sperm bound to ovulated eggs in vitro and fertility was restored in vivo. These data have implications regarding the molecular basis of mouse and human sperm binding to their respective zonae pellucidae.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 2141
Author(s):  
Srinu Tumpara ◽  
Elena Korenbaum ◽  
Mark Kühnel ◽  
Danny Jonigk ◽  
Beata Olejnicka ◽  
...  

The C-terminal-fragments of alpha1-antitrypsin (AAT) have been identified and their diverse biological roles have been reported in vitro and in vivo. These findings prompted us to develop a monoclonal antibody that specifically recognizes C-36 peptide (corresponding to residues 359–394) resulting from the protease-associated cleavage of AAT. The C-36-targeting mouse monoclonal Immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibody (containing κ light chains, clone C42) was generated and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)-tested by Davids Biotechnologie GmbH, Germany. Here, we addressed the effectiveness of the novel C42 antibody in different immunoassay formats, such as dot- and Western blotting, confocal laser microscopy, and flow cytometry. According to the dot-blot results, our novel C42 antibody detects the C-36 peptide at a range of 0.1–0.05 µg and shows no cross-reactivity with native, polymerized, or oxidized forms of full-length AAT, the AAT-elastase complex mixture, as well as with shorter C-terminal fragments of AAT. However, the C42 antibody does not detect denatured peptide in SDS-PAGE/Western blotting assays. On the other hand, our C42 antibody, unconjugated as well as conjugated to DyLight488 fluorophore, when applied for immunofluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry assays, specifically detected the C-36 peptide in human blood cells. Altogether, we demonstrate that our novel C42 antibody successfully recognizes the C-36 peptide of AAT in a number of immunoassays and has potential to become an important tool in AAT-related studies.


Life ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 298
Author(s):  
Daniele Focosi ◽  
Angelo Genoni ◽  
Ersilia Lucenteforte ◽  
Silvia Tillati ◽  
Antonio Tamborini ◽  
...  

Antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS CoV-2) infection has been hypothesized. However, to date, there has been no in vitro or in vivo evidence supporting this. Cross-reactivity exists between SARS CoV-2 and other Coronaviridae for both cellular and humoral immunity. We show here that IgG against nucleocapsid protein of alphacoronavirus NL63 and 229E correlate with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) clinical severity score ≥ 5 (incidence rate ratios was 1.87 and 1.80, respectively, and 1.94 for the combination). These laboratory findings suggest possible ADE of SARS CoV-2 infection by previous alphacoronavirus immunity.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 1943999
Author(s):  
Junyuan Luo ◽  
Zening Feng ◽  
Wentao Jiang ◽  
Xuelian Jiang ◽  
Yue Chen ◽  
...  

1994 ◽  
Vol 35 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 81-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
P.A. Pugh ◽  
J.G. Thompson ◽  
K. Logan ◽  
H.R. Tervit

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Gómez-Casado ◽  
M. Garrido-Arandia ◽  
P. Gamboa ◽  
N. Blanca-López ◽  
G. Canto ◽  
...  

Nowadays, treatment of food allergy only considered the avoidance of the specific food. However, the possibility of cross-reactivity makes this practice not very effective. Immunotherapy may exhibit as a good alternative to food allergy treatment. The use of hypoallergenic molecules with reduced IgE binding capacity but with ability to stimulate the immune system is a promising tool which could be developed for immunotherapy. In this study, three mutants of Pru p 3, the principal allergen of peach, were produced based on the described mimotope and T cell epitopes, by changing the specific residues to alanine, named asPru p 3.01, Pru p 3.02, andPru p 3.03.Pru p 3.01showed very similar allergenic activity as the wild type byin vitroassays. However,Pru p 3.02andPru p 3.03presented reduced IgE binding with respect to the native form, byin vitro,ex vivo,and in vivo assays. In addition,Pru p 3.03had affected the IgG4 binding capacity and presented a random circular dichroism, which was reflected in the nonrecognition by specific antibodies anti-Pru p 3. Nevertheless, bothPru p 3.02andPru p 3.03maintained the binding to IgG1 and their ability to activate T lymphocytes. Thus,Pru p 3.02andPru p 3.03could be good candidates for potential immunotherapy in peach-allergic patients.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naina Kumar ◽  
Namit Kant Singh

: Male infertility is rising now-a-days and accounts for major part of infertility cases worldwide. Novel tests are being developed for better detection and management of male infertility. Though there are many tests available for diagnosing male infertility like acrosome reaction rate, hemizona assay, in vivo or in vitro sperm penetration assay, sperm DNA damage tests, but semen analysis is most commonly used initial test for male infertility. It is usually associated with failure to detect cause in many cases, as seminal composition gets affected by a number of factors and can give false reports. Furthermore, it does not give any information about defects in capacitation, sperm Zona Pellucida interaction and sperm’s ability to fertilize oocytes. This results in failure of detection and delayed management of male infertility. Hence, the present review was conducted to identify various sperm proteins that play significant role in spermatogenesis, sperm motility, sperm-Zona Pellucida interaction and fertilization. These proteins can be used in future as markers of male infertility and will aid in better detection and management of male infertility. Methodology: Search for literature was made from 1970 to 2020 from various databases like PUBMED, SCOPUS, Google Scholar on sperm proteins and their role in male fertility using keywords: “sperm protein as bio-markers”, “novel sperm proteins as markers of infertility”, “Sperm proteins essential for capacitation, sperm motility and oocyte fertilization”. Inclusion criteria: All full-length research articles, systematic reviews, meta-analysis or abstracts on sperm proteins and male infertility published in English language in peer-reviewed journals were considered.


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