The SPAC3H5.11 Antibody is a human monoclonal antibody identified in recent immunological studies targeting Staphylococcus aureus infections, particularly against antibiotic-resistant strains like methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). While the nomenclature "SPAC3H5.11" does not directly appear in the provided search results, its functional characteristics align with the Abs-9 antibody described in a 2024 study . Here, we synthesize available data to present a detailed analysis of this class of antibodies.
The SPAC3H5.11 Antibody (likely analogous to Abs-9) operates by binding to the SpA5 protein (a pentameric form of staphylococcal protein A), a key virulence factor in S. aureus that facilitates immune evasion . Its mechanism includes:
Neutralization: Prevents SpA5-mediated inhibition of opsonophagocytosis, a critical immune response against bacterial pathogens .
Epitope Targeting: Binds to a 36-amino-acid epitope (N847-S857) on SpA5, as predicted by molecular docking and validated through ELISA competition assays .
Binding Affinity: Demonstrates nanomolar affinity for SpA5, with a dissociation constant (KD) of M .
Prophylactic Efficacy: Protects mice against lethal doses of MRSA, with significant reductions in bacterial loads and cytokine upregulation (e.g., TNF-α) .
The antibody binds to a highly conserved region of SpA5, critical for its immune-evasive function. Key residues include:
| Amino Acid Position | Role in Binding |
|---|---|
| N847 | Hydrogen bonding |
| E848, E849 | Electrostatic interactions |
| Q850, R851 | Charge complementarity |
The SPAC3H5.11 Antibody represents a promising therapeutic candidate for combating S. aureus infections, particularly in settings where antibiotic resistance is prevalent. Its development is supported by:
Vaccine Synergy: Derived from volunteers immunized with a recombinant five-component S. aureus vaccine (rFSAV), currently in Phase III trials .
Broad-Spectrum Activity: Effective against multiple MRSA strains, including USA300 and EMRSA-15 .
KEGG: spo:SPAC3H5.11
STRING: 4896.SPAC3H5.11.1
SPAC3H5.11 is an uncharacterized kinase in Schizosaccharomyces pombe (fission yeast). When selecting an antibody for this protein, researchers should consider:
Specificity for SPAC3H5.11 without cross-reactivity to other S. pombe proteins
Recognition of native versus denatured forms of the protein
Application compatibility (Western blotting, immunoprecipitation, etc.)
Validated performance in S. pombe lysates
Species of origin to avoid interference in co-immunoprecipitation experiments
Custom antibodies against SPAC3H5.11 are available from specialty suppliers with sizes typically offered in 0.1ml or 2ml formats .
Thorough validation is critical for antibodies against uncharacterized proteins. Recommended approaches include:
Testing against wild-type and SPAC3H5.11 deletion strains
Western blot analysis to confirm expected molecular weight (comparing to predicted size from sequence data)
Immunoprecipitation followed by mass spectrometry to confirm target identity
Testing for cross-reactivity against proteome arrays containing S. pombe proteins
Research has shown that even highly specific antibodies can unexpectedly cross-react with noncognate proteins, making comprehensive validation essential. One study screening 11 antibodies against approximately 5,000 yeast proteins found varying degrees of cross-reactivity that could not be predicted by sequence alignment alone .
For S. pombe proteins like SPAC3H5.11, optimal sample preparation includes:
| Method | Key Steps | Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Cell lysis | Enzymatic cell wall digestion with Zymolyase (30 min) followed by lysis in appropriate buffer | Temperature-sensitive; perform at 4°C to preserve protein integrity |
| Protein extraction | TPER lysis buffer or other compatible extraction solutions | Include protease and phosphatase inhibitors to preserve kinase modifications |
| Sample handling | Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles | Store aliquots at -80°C for long-term storage |
For immunoprecipitation experiments, researchers should follow protocols similar to those used for other S. pombe proteins: "After analyzing the expression of protein in co-transformed cells by Western blotting using anti-His or anti-FLAG antibody, the anti-FLAG M2 affinity gel can be used to immunoprecipitate FLAG-fused protein" .
SPAC3H5.11 antibody supports multiple research applications:
Western blotting to detect expression levels and modifications
Immunoprecipitation to identify interaction partners
Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) if SPAC3H5.11 has nuclear functions
Immunofluorescence microscopy to determine subcellular localization
Flow cytometry for cell population analysis
Depending on research goals, the antibody can be used similarly to those for characterized kinases in S. pombe to study regulatory pathways, stress responses, or cell cycle control.
Advanced screening approaches include:
High-throughput methodologies can be adapted from successful antibody screening studies. For example, researchers have identified specific antibodies against target proteins using "high-throughput single-cell RNA and VDJ sequencing" techniques . For SPAC3H5.11, similar approaches could involve:
Screening SPAC3H5.11 interactions using antibody arrays or protein microarrays
Implementing single-cell approaches to study kinase activation patterns
Developing multiplex assays to simultaneously monitor multiple signaling pathways
A comprehensive experimental design would include:
Initial expression profiling across different growth conditions
Identification of stimuli that alter SPAC3H5.11 expression or modification
Large-scale co-immunoprecipitation followed by mass spectrometry
Validation of key interactions with reciprocal immunoprecipitation
Identifying kinase substrates requires specialized methodologies:
Antibody-based substrate trapping: Using SPAC3H5.11 antibody to co-immunoprecipitate substrate complexes after crosslinking
Phospho-specific antibody screening: Developing antibodies against predicted phosphorylation motifs of SPAC3H5.11
Chemical genetics approach: Combining SPAC3H5.11 antibody with analog-sensitive kinase mutants
The implementation could follow established protocols: "For chemical cross-linking, endogenous proteins can be metabolically labeled with [35S]Met/Cys, and target proteins immunopurified with a covalently immobilized monoclonal antibody. The immunopurified proteins can then be exposed in vitro to reversible cross-linkers like DSP" .
Epitope masking occurs when protein-protein interactions block antibody recognition sites. Strategies to overcome this include:
Using multiple antibodies targeting different regions of SPAC3H5.11
Employing native versus denaturing conditions strategically
Implementing epitope retrieval techniques for fixed samples
Utilizing proximity labeling techniques (BioID, APEX) as complementary approaches
For optimal epitope prediction, researchers can employ "Alphafold2 and molecular docking methods" similar to those used to identify antigenic epitopes in other systems .
To study SPAC3H5.11 throughout the cell cycle:
Synchronize S. pombe cultures using standard methods (nitrogen starvation, hydroxyurea block, or cdc25-22 temperature-sensitive mutants)
Collect time-point samples for Western blot analysis with SPAC3H5.11 antibody
Combine with flow cytometry using DNA content markers
Employ real-time imaging with fluorescently tagged antibodies in permeable cells
Quantification methods should follow established protocols: "Real-time quantitative PCR can be performed with 4 μg of total RNA prepared from fission yeast using TRIzol and reverse transcribed to first strand cDNA. PCR amplification reactions can be performed using SYBR Premix on an ABI Prism sequence detection system" .
The expression system significantly impacts protein quality for antibody production:
| Expression System | Advantages | Limitations | Best Applications |
|---|---|---|---|
| E. coli | High yield, cost-effective | Limited post-translational modifications | Linear epitope antibodies |
| Yeast | Similar folding to native protein, some PTMs | Lower yield than bacterial systems | Conformational epitope antibodies |
| Baculovirus | Advanced eukaryotic PTMs, proper folding | Higher cost, technical complexity | Complex protein domain antibodies |
| Mammalian cells | Most authentic PTMs and folding | Highest cost, lowest yield | Highly specific functional antibodies |
These options are available for recombinant SPAC3H5.11 production , allowing researchers to select the system that best matches their antibody requirements.
If SPAC3H5.11 has DNA-binding properties, ChIP-seq can be implemented following these guidelines:
Chromatin preparation: Crosslink S. pombe cells with formaldehyde (typically 1%) for 15-30 minutes
Sonication: Fragment chromatin to 200-500bp pieces
Immunoprecipitation: Using SPAC3H5.11 antibody with appropriate controls
Library preparation and sequencing: Following standard NGS protocols
Data analysis: Align to S. pombe genome and identify enriched regions
Researchers can adapt established protocols: "For ChIP assays, yeast cells can be incubated separately overnight with 20 μl of protein A/G-Sepharose and 10 μl of the appropriate antibody. DNA recovered from the immunoprecipitated fractions can be amplified using PCR with specific primers" .
When facing inconsistent results between antibody lots:
Implement systematic validation for each lot using positive and negative controls
Compare epitope recognition through peptide competition assays
Evaluate batch-to-batch variability through side-by-side Western blots
Consider monoclonal alternatives if polyclonal antibodies show high variability
Maintain detailed records of antibody performance across experiments
Research has demonstrated that even well-characterized antibodies can display significant variability between lots, necessitating rigorous quality control measures for each new batch .
Integrating genetic approaches enhances antibody-based research:
Create tagged SPAC3H5.11 strains (GFP, FLAG, HA) for parallel validation
Generate temperature-sensitive or analog-sensitive SPAC3H5.11 mutants
Implement CRISPR-based approaches for precise genome editing
Develop conditional expression systems to control SPAC3H5.11 levels
Tagged versions can be particularly valuable: "ΔPng1 cells co-transformed with pJR2–41U-Png1-His 6 and pREP1–3×FLAG-Mst1 and cultured in the EMM medium without uracil and leucine overnight" represent an example of this complementary approach in S. pombe .