title: A Naturally Occurring Antibody Fragment Neutralizes Infectivity of Diverse Infectious Agents.
abstract: A phosphorylated peptide, named K40H, derived from the constant region of IgMs was detected in human serum by liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry. Synthetic K40H proved to exert a potent in vitro activity against fungal pathogens, and to inhibit HIV-1 replication in vitro and ex vivo. It also showed a therapeutic effect against an experimental infection by Candida albicans in the invertebrate model Galleria mellonella. K40H represents the proof of concept of the innate role that naturally occurring antibody fragments may exert against infectious agents, shedding a new light upon the posthumous role of antibodies and opening a new scenario on the multifaceted functionality of humoral immunity.
authors.affiliation: Microbiology and Virology Unit, Department of Biomedical, Biotechnological, and Translational Sciences, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Luciano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Polonelli
authors.affiliation: Microbiology and Virology Unit, Department of Biomedical, Biotechnological, and Translational Sciences, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Tecla
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ciociola
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Elviri
authors.affiliation: Microbiology and Virology Unit, Department of Biomedical, Biotechnological, and Translational Sciences, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Pier Paolo
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Zanello
authors.affiliation: Microbiology and Virology Unit, Department of Biomedical, Biotechnological, and Translational Sciences, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Giovati
authors.affiliation: Experimental Oncology Unit, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Denise C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Arruda
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Julián E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, UNIFESP, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Renato A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Mortara
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Morace
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Borghi
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Galati
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Padova, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Oriano
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Marin
authors.affiliation: "L. Sacco" Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.|GEMIB Laboratory, Centre for Medical Research and Molecular Diagnostic, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Casoli
authors.affiliation: GEMIB Laboratory, Centre for Medical Research and Molecular Diagnostic, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pilotti
authors.affiliation: "L. Sacco" Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ronzi
authors.affiliation: Experimental Oncology Unit, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luiz R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Travassos
authors.affiliation: Microbiology and Virology Unit, Department of Biomedical, Biotechnological, and Translational Sciences, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Magliani
authors.affiliation: Microbiology and Virology Unit, Department of Biomedical, Biotechnological, and Translational Sciences, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Conti
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects*; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007141:Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000737:chemistry*; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D010766:Phosphorylation; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D007141:Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D010446:Peptide Fragments