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Publication Abstract from PubMed

De novo protein design has been successful in expanding the natural protein repertoire. However, most de novo proteins lack biological function, presenting a major methodological challenge. In vaccinology, the induction of precise antibody responses remains a cornerstone for next-generation vaccines. Here, we present a protein design algorithm called TopoBuilder, with which we engineered epitope-focused immunogens displaying complex structural motifs. In both mice and nonhuman primates, cocktails of three de novo-designed immunogens induced robust neutralizing responses against the respiratory syncytial virus. Furthermore, the immunogens refocused preexisting antibody responses toward defined neutralization epitopes. Overall, our design approach opens the possibility of targeting specific epitopes for the development of vaccines and therapeutic antibodies and, more generally, will be applicable to the design of de novo proteins displaying complex functional motifs.

De novo protein design enables the precise induction of RSV-neutralizing antibodies.,Sesterhenn F, Yang C, Bonet J, Cramer JT, Wen X, Wang Y, Chiang CI, Abriata LA, Kucharska I, Castoro G, Vollers SS, Galloux M, Dheilly E, Rosset S, Corthesy P, Georgeon S, Villard M, Richard CA, Descamps D, Delgado T, Oricchio E, Rameix-Welti MA, Mas V, Ervin S, Eleouet JF, Riffault S, Bates JT, Julien JP, Li Y, Jardetzky T, Krey T, Correia BE Science. 2020 May 15;368(6492). pii: 368/6492/eaay5051. doi:, 10.1126/science.aay5051. PMID:32409444^[1]

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.