Scientists Develop 10 Antibodies Against Epstein–barr Virus
Scientists at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and the University of Washington developed antibodies that target epstein–barr virus surface proteins, and one protected mice with human-like immune systems from infection. The virus is thought to infect 95 percent of adults and can stay in the body for life after initial infection.
Andrew McGuire, a biochemist at Fred Hutchinson, said finding human antibodies that block Epstein-Barr virus from infecting immune cells has been particularly challenging because the virus binds to nearly every B cell. He said the team used new technologies to fill that knowledge gap and took what he called a critical step toward blocking one of the world's most common viruses.
Fred Hutchinson and Washington
The researchers isolated 10 new antibodies in the lab. Two targeted gp350 and eight targeted gp42, the two surface proteins the virus uses to unlock access to B cells. In mice bred to produce genetically human antibodies, exposure to gp350 and gp42 triggered the immune response the team was looking for, and one antibody protected the animals from Epstein-Barr virus infection.
Crystal Chhan, a pathobiologist, said the work identified important antibodies against Epstein-Barr virus and validated a new approach for discovering protective antibodies against other pathogens. She said the finding was an exciting one for her as an early-career scientist and showed how science can lead to unexpected discoveries.
Epstein-Barr Virus Protection
The work points to a strategy aimed at stopping the virus before it takes hold and possibly limiting later reactivation. That could matter for people receiving organ and bone marrow transplants, where immunosuppression can weaken defenses and leave them more vulnerable to Epstein-Barr virus.
Epstein-Barr virus usually causes no obvious symptoms for most people, but when it does produce noticeable illness in humans, it often first appears as infectious mononucleosis, also known as glandular fever. After that, it can remain dormant in the body, and it has been linked to several cancers, multiple sclerosis and other severe health complications.
