HTLV-1 Basic Leucine-zipper Factor (HBZ)
Considering that the hbz gene is the sole HTLV-1 gene present in all infected individuals, targeting HBZ holds promising prospects as a therapeutic approach for adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) treatment. Alfa Cytology offers drug development services for ATL, aiming to discover effective medications to treat this condition for our clients.
Introduction to HTLV-1 HBZ Viral Protein
HTLV-1 transactivator protein (Tax) initiates cellular transformation in early stages of HTLV-1 oncogenesis, while HBZ sustains the transformed phenotype in the absence or suppression of Tax. HBZ expression persists throughout both early and late stages. In ATL, HBZ gradually translocates from cytoplasm to nucleus, impacting infected T-cells' immunophenotype and crucially maintaining them in vivo.
Fig. 1. Subcellular localization of HTLV-1 HBZ protein during adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma progression. (Forlani, G. et al., 2021)
HBZ has been associated with oncogenesis, as it is one of the proteins encoded by HTLV-1 that drive oncogenesis, along with Tax. Alfa Cytology provides comprehensive HBZ-related development services, including but not limited to the following.
Drug Development Services Targeting HBZ
By targeting HBZ as an immunotherapeutic approach for ATL, we develop targeted drugs for our clients. We offer a comprehensive suite of multifunctional discovery services, customized to meet the requirements of any project, while maintaining the same quality and level of service that clients expect from Alfa Cytology.
Therapeutic Monoclonal Antibodies
Based on the functional structure of HBZ, therapeutic monoclonal antibodies are designed, and methods such as transgenic animal production, whole-human monoclonal antibody generation, antibody phage display, or cloning from individual B cells are employed for the production of monoclonal antibodies. Our offered phage display Fab antibody library aims to provide maximal functional diversity, affinity, and exceptional developmental potential.
HBZ Vaccine
We utilize algorithmic analysis to design and construct a candidate peptide antigen for HBZ-specific T cells, providing this service to our clients. Within our system, we generate recombinant vaccinia virus (rVV) expressing HTLV-1 HBZ. We test the ability of the HBZ vaccine to induce cytotoxic T lymphocytes and inhibit the expression of HBZ in lymphoma cell lines within the body.
Natural Products for Drug Discovery
Plant compounds have been studied for their therapeutic potential in treating ATL. Based on natural product libraries, we offer drug development services for screening and identifying compounds from these libraries for ATL treatment. Our natural product libraries consist of a diverse range of purified compounds derived from natural resources, including plants, bacteria, and other terrestrial sources. We provide several distinct types of natural product libraries for your selection.
- Natural Product Library
- Selectable Natural Product Library
- Anti-infective Natural Product Library
- Rare Natural Compound Library
- Terpene Natural Product Library
- Chinese Pharmacopoeia Natural Product Library
Simultaneously, the screened candidate drugs will be tested on ATL cell lines. The testing aims to evaluate whether these candidate drugs can effectively inhibit cell proliferation of ATL cells by suppressing the expression of the viral protein HBZ.
Advantages of Our Services
Professionally Strong Team at R&D
Proprietary Antibody Discovery Platform
One-stop Integrated Services
Diverse Collections of Natural Products
If you are seeking drug development services targeting HBZ, Alfa Cytology is your ideal partner. Our services are designed to meet the needs of our clients, providing them with high-quality, reliable, and customized solutions. Contact us today, and we will provide you with professional support and solutions.
Reference
- Forlani, G.; et al. Dual cytoplasmic and nuclear localization of HTLV-1-encoded HBZ protein is a unique feature of adult T-cell leukemia. Haematologica. 2021, 106(8): 2076.