Novel human 3-domain disulfide-stabilized antibody fragment against glycoprotein of rabies virus

Mutated disulfide bond sites VH (Cys44) and VL (Cys100) were constructed in variable domains (Fvs) of the human anti-glycoprotein antigen of the rabies virus (anti-GPRV), and the light chain variable (VL) and heavy chain variable (VH) fragments were linked using the heavy chain constant region 1 (CH1) of the human immunoglobulin (Ig) to successfully construct a 3-domain disulfide-stabilized fragment of variables (3d-dsFv). 3d-dsFv was mainly expressed as an inclusion body. After refolding by the conventional dilution method, 3d-dsFv was purified using a nickel-nitrilotriacetic acid (Ni-NTA) column. Enyzme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine the binding activity of 3d-dsFv to GPRV. Flow cytometry studies and rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test were used to evaluate the function of 3d-dsFv. The results showed that the stability of 3d-dsFv was improved notably in some aspects such as thermal kinetics, ability to withstand urea denaturation, etc. 3d-dsFv could bind specially to infective cells and the GPRV. The titration of 3d-dsFv to RV-CVS is 83.3 IU/mg, and it can easily reach 2.5 IU/mL, which is the value suggested by the WHO as effective for neutralization titration of the rabies virus.