RESUMO
Several ebolaviruses cause outbreaks of severe disease. Vaccines and monoclonal antibody cocktails are available to treat Ebola virus (EBOV) infections, but not Sudan virus (SUDV) or other ebolaviruses. Current cocktails contain antibodies that cross-react with the secreted soluble glycoprotein (sGP) that absorbs virus-neutralizing antibodies. By sorting memory B cells from EBOV infection survivors, we isolated two broadly reactive anti-GP monoclonal antibodies, 1C3 and 1C11, that potently neutralize, protect rodents from disease, and lack sGP cross-reactivity. Both antibodies recognize quaternary epitopes in trimeric ebolavirus GP. 1C11 bridges adjacent protomers via the fusion loop. 1C3 has a tripartite epitope in the center of the trimer apex. One 1C3 antigen-binding fragment anchors simultaneously to the three receptor-binding sites in the GP trimer, and separate 1C3 paratope regions interact differently with identical residues on the three protomers. A cocktail of both antibodies completely protected nonhuman primates from EBOV and SUDV infections, indicating their potential clinical value.
Assuntos
Anticorpos Neutralizantes , Anticorpos Antivirais , Ebolavirus , Doença pelo Vírus Ebola , Animais , Epitopos , Glicoproteínas/química , Subunidades ProteicasRESUMO
Ebolaviruses cause a severe and often fatal illness with the potential for global spread. Monoclonal antibody-based treatments that have become available recently have a narrow therapeutic spectrum and are ineffective against ebolaviruses other than Ebola virus (EBOV), including medically important Bundibugyo (BDBV) and Sudan (SUDV) viruses. Here, we report the development of a therapeutic cocktail comprising two broadly neutralizing human antibodies, rEBOV-515 and rEBOV-442, that recognize non-overlapping sites on the ebolavirus glycoprotein (GP). Antibodies in the cocktail exhibited synergistic neutralizing activity, resisted viral escape, and possessed differing requirements for their Fc-regions for optimal in vivo activities. The cocktail protected non-human primates from ebolavirus disease caused by EBOV, BDBV, or SUDV with high therapeutic effectiveness. High-resolution structures of the cocktail antibodies in complex with GP revealed the molecular determinants for neutralization breadth and potency. This study provides advanced preclinical data to support clinical development of this cocktail for pan-ebolavirus therapy.
Assuntos
Anticorpos Antivirais/imunologia , Ebolavirus/imunologia , Doença pelo Vírus Ebola/imunologia , Doença pelo Vírus Ebola/prevenção & controle , Sequência de Aminoácidos , Animais , Anticorpos Monoclonais/imunologia , Anticorpos Neutralizantes/imunologia , Sítios de Ligação , Linhagem Celular , Microscopia Crioeletrônica , Ebolavirus/ultraestrutura , Epitopos/imunologia , Feminino , Glicoproteínas/química , Glicoproteínas/imunologia , Doença pelo Vírus Ebola/virologia , Humanos , Concentração de Íons de Hidrogênio , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C , Modelos Moleculares , Primatas , Receptores Fc/metabolismo , Proteínas Recombinantes/imunologia , Viremia/imunologiaRESUMO
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is a World Health Organization priority pathogen. CCHFV infections cause a highly lethal hemorrhagic fever for which specific treatments and vaccines are urgently needed. Here, we characterize the human immune response to natural CCHFV infection to identify potent neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (nAbs) targeting the viral glycoprotein. Competition experiments showed that these nAbs bind six distinct antigenic sites in the Gc subunit. These sites were further delineated through mutagenesis and mapped onto a prefusion model of Gc. Pairwise screening identified combinations of non-competing nAbs that afford synergistic neutralization. Further enhancements in neutralization breadth and potency were attained by physically linking variable domains of synergistic nAb pairs through bispecific antibody (bsAb) engineering. Although multiple nAbs protected mice from lethal CCHFV challenge in pre- or post-exposure prophylactic settings, only a single bsAb, DVD-121-801, afforded therapeutic protection. DVD-121-801 is a promising candidate suitable for clinical development as a CCHFV therapeutic.
Assuntos
Anticorpos Neutralizantes/imunologia , Febre Hemorrágica da Crimeia/imunologia , Sobreviventes , Sequência de Aminoácidos , Animais , Anticorpos Monoclonais/imunologia , Antígenos Virais/metabolismo , Fenômenos Biofísicos , Chlorocebus aethiops , Mapeamento de Epitopos , Epitopos/metabolismo , Feminino , Vírus da Febre Hemorrágica da Crimeia-Congo/imunologia , Febre Hemorrágica da Crimeia/prevenção & controle , Humanos , Imunoglobulina G/metabolismo , Masculino , Camundongos , Testes de Neutralização , Ligação Proteica , Engenharia de Proteínas , Proteínas Recombinantes/imunologia , Células Vero , Proteínas Virais/químicaRESUMO
Hendra (HeV) and Nipah (NiV) viruses are emerging zoonotic pathogens in the Henipavirus genus causing outbreaks of disease with very high case fatality rates. Here, we report the first naturally occurring human monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against HeV receptor binding protein (RBP). All isolated mAbs neutralized HeV, and some also neutralized NiV. Epitope binning experiments identified five major antigenic sites on HeV-RBP. Animal studies demonstrated that the most potent cross-reactive neutralizing mAbs, HENV-26 and HENV-32, protected ferrets in lethal models of infection with NiV Bangladesh 3 days after exposure. We solved the crystal structures of mAb HENV-26 in complex with both HeV-RBP and NiV-RBP and of mAb HENV-32 in complex with HeV-RBP. The studies reveal diverse sites of vulnerability on RBP recognized by potent human mAbs that inhibit virus by multiple mechanisms. These studies identify promising prophylactic antibodies and define protective epitopes that can be used in rational vaccine design.
Assuntos
Anticorpos Neutralizantes/imunologia , Anticorpos Antivirais/imunologia , Vírus Hendra/imunologia , Henipavirus/imunologia , Testes de Neutralização , Vírus Nipah/imunologia , Receptores Virais/imunologia , Sequência de Aminoácidos , Animais , Anticorpos Monoclonais/química , Anticorpos Monoclonais/isolamento & purificação , Antígenos Virais/imunologia , Sítios de Ligação , Ligação Competitiva , Encéfalo/patologia , Quirópteros/virologia , Reações Cruzadas/imunologia , Cristalografia por Raios X , Efrina-B2/metabolismo , Feminino , Furões/virologia , Humanos , Interferometria , Fígado/patologia , Modelos Moleculares , Ligação Proteica , Conformação Proteica , Domínios Proteicos , Receptores Virais/química , Receptores Virais/metabolismoRESUMO
Lassa virus (LASV) causes hemorrhagic fever and is endemic in West Africa. Protective antibody responses primarily target the LASV surface glycoprotein (GPC), and GPC-B competition group antibodies often show potent neutralizing activity in humans. However, which features confer potent and broadly neutralizing antibody responses is unclear. Here, we compared three crystal structures of LASV GPC complexed with GPC-B antibodies of varying neutralization potency. Each GPC-B antibody recognized an overlapping epitope involved in binding of two adjacent GPC monomers and preserved the prefusion trimeric conformation. Differences among GPC-antibody interactions highlighted specific residues that enhance neutralization. Using structure-guided amino acid substitutions, we increased the neutralization potency and breadth of these antibodies to include all major LASV lineages. The ability to define antibody residues that allow potent and broad neutralizing activity, together with findings from analyses of inferred germline precursors, is critical to develop potent therapeutics and for vaccine design and assessment.
Assuntos
Anticorpos Neutralizantes/imunologia , Anticorpos Antivirais/imunologia , Células Germinativas/imunologia , Febre Lassa/imunologia , Vírus Lassa/imunologia , Glicoproteínas de Membrana/química , Proteínas do Envelope Viral/química , Animais , Antígenos Virais/imunologia , Chlorocebus aethiops , Drosophila/citologia , Epitopos/química , Epitopos/imunologia , Células HEK293 , Humanos , Febre Lassa/virologia , Glicoproteínas de Membrana/imunologia , Estrutura Secundária de Proteína , Células Vero , Proteínas do Envelope Viral/imunologia , Vacinas Virais/imunologiaRESUMO
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for an unprecedented global pandemic of COVID-19. Animal models are urgently needed to study the pathogenesis of COVID-19 and to screen vaccines and treatments. We show that African green monkeys (AGMs) support robust SARS-CoV-2 replication and develop pronounced respiratory disease, which may more accurately reflect human COVID-19 cases than other nonhuman primate species. SARS-CoV-2 was detected in mucosal samples, including rectal swabs, as late as 15 days after exposure. Marked inflammation and coagulopathy in blood and tissues were prominent features. Transcriptome analysis demonstrated stimulation of interferon and interleukin-6 pathways in bronchoalveolar lavage samples and repression of natural killer cell- and T cell-associated transcripts in peripheral blood. Despite a slight waning in antibody titers after primary challenge, enhanced antibody and cellular responses contributed to rapid clearance after re-challenge with an identical strain. These data support the utility of AGM for studying COVID-19 pathogenesis and testing medical countermeasures.
Assuntos
COVID-19/imunologia , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Reinfecção/imunologia , SARS-CoV-2/imunologia , Linfócitos T/imunologia , Animais , Anticorpos Antivirais/imunologia , COVID-19/epidemiologia , COVID-19/virologia , Chlorocebus aethiops , Epidemias/prevenção & controle , Expressão Gênica/genética , Expressão Gênica/imunologia , Perfilação da Expressão Gênica , Humanos , Interferons/genética , Interferons/imunologia , Interferons/metabolismo , Células Matadoras Naturais/imunologia , Células Matadoras Naturais/metabolismo , Reinfecção/virologia , SARS-CoV-2/fisiologia , Linfócitos T/metabolismo , Linfócitos T/virologiaRESUMO
Structural principles underlying the composition of protective antiviral monoclonal antibody (mAb) cocktails are poorly defined. Here, we exploited antibody cooperativity to develop a therapeutic mAb cocktail against Ebola virus. We systematically analyzed the antibody repertoire in human survivors and identified a pair of potently neutralizing mAbs that cooperatively bound to the ebolavirus glycoprotein (GP). High-resolution structures revealed that in a two-antibody cocktail, molecular mimicry was a major feature of mAb-GP interactions. Broadly neutralizing mAb rEBOV-520 targeted a conserved epitope on the GP base region. mAb rEBOV-548 bound to a glycan cap epitope, possessed neutralizing and Fc-mediated effector function activities, and potentiated neutralization by rEBOV-520. Remodeling of the glycan cap structures by the cocktail enabled enhanced GP binding and virus neutralization. The cocktail demonstrated resistance to virus escape and protected non-human primates (NHPs) against Ebola virus disease. These data illuminate structural principles of antibody cooperativity with implications for development of antiviral immunotherapeutics.
Assuntos
Anticorpos Monoclonais/imunologia , Anticorpos Neutralizantes/imunologia , Anticorpos Antivirais/imunologia , Ebolavirus/imunologia , Glicoproteínas/imunologia , Doença pelo Vírus Ebola/imunologia , Animais , Anticorpos Monoclonais/uso terapêutico , Anticorpos Neutralizantes/uso terapêutico , Anticorpos Antivirais/uso terapêutico , Linhagem Celular , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Quimioterapia Combinada , Epitopos , Feminino , Glicoproteínas/química , Doença pelo Vírus Ebola/prevenção & controle , Humanos , Fragmentos Fab das Imunoglobulinas/imunologia , Macaca mulatta , Masculino , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C , Mimetismo Molecular , Conformação ProteicaRESUMO
Natural kinesin motors are tethered to their cargoes via short C-terminal or N-terminal linkers, whose docking against the core motor domain generates directional force. It remains unclear whether linker docking is the only process contributing directional force or whether linker docking is coupled to and amplifies an underlying, more fundamental force-generating mechanical cycle of the kinesin motor domain. Here, we show that kinesin motor domains tethered via double-stranded DNAs (dsDNAs) attached to surface loops drive robust microtubule (MT) gliding. Tethering using dsDNA attached to surface loops disconnects the C-terminal neck-linker and the N-terminal cover strand so that their dock-undock cycle cannot exert force. The most effective attachment positions for the dsDNA tether are loop 2 or loop 10, which lie closest to the MT plus and minus ends, respectively. In three cases, we observed minus-end-directed motility. Our findings demonstrate an underlying, potentially ancient, force-generating core mechanical action of the kinesin motor domain, which drives, and is amplified by, linker docking.
Assuntos
Cinesinas , Microtúbulos , Domínios Proteicos , Cinesinas/metabolismo , Cinesinas/química , Microtúbulos/metabolismo , Animais , DNA/metabolismo , DNA/químicaRESUMO
Mitotic spindles are self-organizing protein machines that harness teams of multiple force generators to drive chromosome segregation. Kinesins are key members of these force-generating teams. Different kinesins walk directionally along dynamic microtubules, anchor, crosslink, align and sort microtubules into polarized bundles, and influence microtubule dynamics by interacting with microtubule tips. The mechanochemical mechanisms of these kinesins are specialized to enable each type to make a specific contribution to spindle self-organization and chromosome segregation.
Assuntos
Segregação de Cromossomos/fisiologia , Cinesinas/metabolismo , Microtúbulos/metabolismo , Mitose/fisiologia , Fuso Acromático/fisiologia , Animais , HumanosRESUMO
There are no approved treatments for Lassa fever (LF), which is responsible for thousands of deaths each year in West Africa. A major challenge in developing effective medical countermeasures against LF is the high diversity of circulating Lassa virus (LASV) strains with four recognized lineages and four proposed lineages. The recent resurgence of LASV in Nigeria caused by genetically distinct strains underscores this concern. Two LASV lineages (II and III) are dominant in Nigeria. Here, we show that combinations of two or three pan-lineage neutralizing human monoclonal antibodies (8.9F, 12.1F, 37.D) known as Arevirumab-2 or Arevirumab-3 can protect up to 100% of cynomolgus macaques against challenge with both lineage II and III LASV isolates when treatment is initiated at advanced stages of disease on day 8 after LASV exposure. This work demonstrates that it may be possible to develop postexposure interventions that can broadly protect against most strains of LASV.
Assuntos
Febre Lassa , Vírus Lassa , Animais , Humanos , Febre Lassa/prevenção & controle , África Ocidental , Anticorpos Monoclonais , Anticorpos Neutralizantes , Macaca fascicularisRESUMO
SignificanceConcern has increased about the pandemic potential of Nipah virus (NiV). Similar to SARS-CoV-2, NiV is an RNA virus that is transmitted by respiratory droplets. There are currently no NiV vaccines licensed for human use. While several preventive vaccines have shown promise in protecting animals against lethal NiV disease, most studies have assessed protection 1 mo after vaccination. However, in order to contain and control outbreaks, vaccines that can rapidly confer protection in days rather than months are needed. Here, we show that a recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus vector expressing the NiV glycoprotein can completely protect monkeys vaccinated 7 d prior to NiV exposure and 67% of animals vaccinated 3 d before NiV challenge.
Assuntos
Infecções por Henipavirus/veterinária , Vírus Nipah/imunologia , Doenças dos Primatas/prevenção & controle , Vacinas Sintéticas/imunologia , Vacinas Virais/imunologia , Animais , Anticorpos Neutralizantes , Anticorpos Antivirais/imunologia , Biomarcadores , Vetores Genéticos , Estimativa de Kaplan-Meier , Testes de Neutralização , Avaliação de Resultados em Cuidados de Saúde , Doenças dos Primatas/diagnóstico , Doenças dos Primatas/mortalidade , Doenças dos Primatas/virologia , Vacinação , Carga ViralRESUMO
The emergence of Marburg virus (MARV) in Guinea and Ghana triggered the assembly of the MARV vaccine "MARVAC" consortium representing leaders in the field of vaccine research and development aiming to facilitate a rapid response to this infectious disease threat. Here, we discuss current progress, challenges, and future directions for MARV vaccines.
Assuntos
Doença do Vírus de Marburg , Marburgvirus , Vacinas Virais , Animais , Humanos , Doença do Vírus de Marburg/prevenção & controleRESUMO
Marburg virus (MARV) infection results in severe viral hemorrhagic fever with mortalities up to 90%, and there is a pressing need for effective therapies. Here, we established a small interfering RNA (siRNA) conjugate platform that enabled successful subcutaneous delivery of siRNAs targeting the MARV nucleoprotein. We identified a hexavalent mannose ligand with high affinity to macrophages and dendritic cells, which are key cellular targets of MARV infection. This ligand enabled successful siRNA conjugate delivery to macrophages both in vitro and in vivo. The delivered hexa-mannose-siRNA conjugates rendered substantial target gene silencing in macrophages when supported by a mannose functionalized endosome release polymer. This hexa-mannose-siRNA conjugate was further evaluated alongside our hepatocyte-targeting GalNAc-siRNA conjugate, to expand targeting of infected liver cells. In MARV-Angola-infected guinea pigs, these platforms offered limited survival benefit when used as individual agents. However, in combination, they achieved up to 100% protection when dosed 24 h post infection. This novel approach, using two different ligands to simultaneously deliver siRNA to multiple cell types relevant to infection, provides a convenient subcutaneous route of administration for treating infection by these dangerous pathogens. The mannose conjugate platform has potential application to other diseases involving macrophages and dendritic cells.
Assuntos
Doença do Vírus de Marburg , Marburgvirus , Viroses , Animais , Cobaias , RNA Interferente Pequeno/genética , Manose , Ligantes , RNA de Cadeia Dupla , Marburgvirus/genética , Doença do Vírus de Marburg/metabolismo , Doença do Vírus de Marburg/prevenção & controleRESUMO
The COVID-19 pandemic has reemphasized the need to identify safe and scalable therapeutics to slow or reverse symptoms of disease caused by newly emerging and reemerging viral pathogens. Recent clinical successes of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) in therapy for viral infections demonstrate that mAbs offer a solution for these emerging biothreats. We have explored this with respect to Junin virus (JUNV), an arenavirus classified as a category A high-priority agent and the causative agent of Argentine hemorrhagic fever (AHF). There are currently no Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs available for preventing or treating AHF, although immune plasma from convalescent patients is used routinely to treat active infections. However, immune plasma is severely limited in quantity, highly variable in quality, and poses significant safety risks including the transmission of transfusion-borne diseases. mAbs offer a highly specific and consistently potent alternative to immune plasma that can be manufactured at large scale. We previously described a chimeric mAb, cJ199, that provided protection in a guinea pig model of AHF. To adapt this mAb to a format more suitable for clinical use, we humanized the mAb (hu199) and evaluated it in a cynomolgus monkey model of AHF with two JUNV isolates, Romero and Espindola. While untreated control animals experienced 100% lethality, all animals treated with hu199 at 6 d postinoculation (dpi) survived, and 50% of animals treated at 8 dpi survived. mAbs like hu199 may offer a safer, scalable, and more reproducible alternative to immune plasma for rare viral diseases that have epidemic potential.
Assuntos
Anticorpos Monoclonais Humanizados/farmacologia , Anticorpos Antivirais/farmacologia , Febre Hemorrágica Americana/prevenção & controle , Vírus Junin/metabolismo , Animais , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Feminino , Cobaias , Febre Hemorrágica Americana/sangue , Humanos , Macaca fascicularisRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Marburg virus (MARV) has caused numerous sporadic outbreaks of severe hemorrhagic fever in humans. Human case fatality rates of Marburg virus disease (MVD) outbreaks range from 20% to 90%. Viral genotypes of MARV can differ by over 20%, suggesting variable virulence between lineages may accompany this genetic divergence. Comparison of existing animal models of MVD employing different strains of MARV support differences in virulence across MARV genetic lineages; however, there are few systematic comparisons in models that recapitulate human disease available. METHODS: We compared features of disease pathogenesis in uniformly lethal hamster models of MVD made possible through serial adaptation in rodents. RESULTS: No further adaptation from a previously reported guinea pig-adapted (GPA) isolate of MARV-Angola was necessary to achieve uniform lethality in hamsters. Three passages of GPA MARV-Ci67 resulted in uniform lethality, where 4 passages of a GPA Ravn virus was 75% lethal. Hamster-adapted MARV-Ci67 demonstrated delayed time to death, protracted weight loss, lower viral burden, and slower histologic alteration compared to GPA MARV-Angola. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest isolate-dependent virulence differences are maintained even after serial adaptation in rodents and may serve to guide choice of variant and model used for development of vaccines or therapeutics for MVD.
Assuntos
Doença do Vírus de Marburg , Marburgvirus , Cricetinae , Humanos , Cobaias , Animais , Mesocricetus , Virulência , AngolaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Ebola virus (EBOV) is considered among the most dangerous viruses with case fatality rates approaching 90% depending on the outbreak. While several viral proteins (VPs) including VP24, VP35, and the soluble glycoprotein are understood to contribute to virulence, less is known of the contribution of the highly variable mucin-like domain (MLD) of EBOV. Early studies have defined a potential role in immune evasion of the MLD by providing a glycan shield to critical glycoprotein residues tied to viral entry. Nonetheless, little is known as to what direct role the MLD plays in acute EBOV disease (EVD). METHODS: We generated an infectious EBOV clone that lacks the MLD and assessed its virulence in ferrets compared with wild-type (WT) virus. RESULTS: No differences in growth kinetics were observed in vitro, nor were there any differences in time to death, viremia, or clinical picture in ferrets infected with recombinant EBOV (rEBOV)-WT or rEBOV-Δmucin. CONCLUSIONS: The EBOV MLD does not play a critical role in acute pathogenesis of EVD in ferrets.
Assuntos
Ebolavirus , Doença pelo Vírus Ebola , Animais , Humanos , Mucinas , Virulência , Furões , Glicoproteínas/genética , Glicoproteínas/metabolismoRESUMO
Lassa virus (LASV), Junin virus (JUNV), and several other members of the Arenaviridae family are capable of zoonotic transfer to humans and induction of severe viral hemorrhagic fevers. Despite the importance of arenaviruses as potential pandemic pathogens, numerous gaps exist in scientific knowledge pertaining to this diverse family, including gaps in understanding replication, immunosuppression, receptor usage, and elicitation of neutralizing antibody responses, that in turn complicates development of medical countermeasures. A further challenge to the development of medical countermeasures for arenaviruses is the requirement for use of animal models at high levels of biocontainment, where each model has distinct advantages and limitations depending on, availability of space, animals species-specific reagents, and most importantly the ability of the model to faithfully recapitulate human disease. Designation of LASV and JUNV as prototype pathogens can facilitate progress in addressing the public health challenges posed by members of this important virus family.
Assuntos
Arenaviridae , Vírus Junin , Animais , Humanos , Replicação Viral , Vírus Junin/fisiologia , Vírus Lassa , Modelos AnimaisRESUMO
BACKGROUND: The filovirus Bundibugyo virus (BDBV) causes severe disease with a mortality rate of approximately 20%-51%. The only licensed filovirus vaccine in the United States, Ervebo, consists of a recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (rVSV) vector that expresses Ebola virus (EBOV) glycoprotein (GP). Ervebo was shown to rapidly protect against fatal Ebola disease in clinical trials; however, the vaccine is only indicated against EBOV. Recent outbreaks of other filoviruses underscore the need for additional vaccine candidates, particularly for BDBV infections. METHODS: To examine whether the rVSV vaccine candidate rVSVΔG/BDBV-GP could provide therapeutic protection against BDBV, we inoculated seven cynomolgus macaques with 1000 plaque-forming units of BDBV, administering rVSVΔG/BDBV-GP vaccine to 6 of them 20-23 minutes after infection. RESULTS: Five of the treated animals survived infection (83%) compared to an expected natural survival rate of 21% in this macaque model. All treated animals showed an early circulating immune response, while the untreated animal did not. Surviving animals showed evidence of both GP-specific IgM and IgG production, while animals that succumbed did not produce significant IgG. CONCLUSIONS: This small, proof-of-concept study demonstrated early treatment with rVSVΔG/BDBV-GP provides a survival benefit in this nonhuman primate model of BDBV infection, perhaps through earlier initiation of adaptive immunity.
Assuntos
Vacinas contra Ebola , Ebolavirus , Doença pelo Vírus Ebola , Estomatite Vesicular , Vacinas Virais , Animais , Estomatite Vesicular/prevenção & controle , Anticorpos Antivirais , Vesiculovirus/genética , Glicoproteínas/genética , Macaca fascicularis , Imunoglobulina GRESUMO
BACKGROUND: The primary route of infection by Ebola virus (EBOV) is through contact of mucosal surfaces. Few studies have explored infection of nonhuman primates (NHPs) via the oral mucosa, which is a probable portal of natural infection in humans. METHODS: To further characterize the pathogenesis of EBOV infection via the oral exposure route, we challenged cohorts of cynomolgus monkeys with low doses of EBOV variant Makona. RESULTS: Infection with 100 or 50 PFU of EBOV Makona via the oral route resulted in 50% and 83% lethality, respectively. Animals that progressed to fatal disease exhibited lymphopenia, marked coagulopathy, high viral loads, and increased levels of serum markers of inflammation and hepatic/renal injury. Survival in these cohorts was associated with milder fluctuations in leukocyte populations, lack of coagulopathy, and reduced or absent serum markers of inflammation and/or hepatic/renal function. Surprisingly, 2 surviving animals from the 100- and 50-PFU cohorts developed transient low-level viremia in the absence of other clinical signs of disease. Conversely, all animals in the 10 PFU cohort remained disease free and survived to the study end point. CONCLUSIONS: Our observations highlight the susceptibility of NHPs, and by extension, likely humans, to relatively low doses of EBOV via the oral route.
Assuntos
Ebolavirus , Doença pelo Vírus Ebola , Humanos , Animais , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Viremia , Macaca fascicularis , BiomarcadoresRESUMO
Marburg virus (MARV) causes a hemorrhagic fever disease in human and nonhuman primates with high levels of morbidity and mortality. Concerns about weaponization of aerosolized MARV have spurred the development of nonhuman primate (NHP) models of aerosol exposure. To address the potential threat of aerosol exposure, a monoclonal antibody that binds MARV glycoprotein was tested, MR186YTE, for its efficacy as a prophylactic. MR186YTE was administered intramuscularly to NHPs at 15 or 5 mg/kg 1 month prior to MARV aerosol challenge. Seventy-five percent (3/4) of the 15 mg/kg dose group and 50% (2/4) of the 5 mg/kg dose group survived. Serum analyses showed that the NHP dosed with 15 mg/kg that succumbed to infection developed an antidrug antibody response and therefore had no detectable MR186YTE at the time of challenge. These results suggest that intramuscular dosing of mAbs may be a clinically useful prophylaxis for MARV aerosol exposure.