Heterosubtypic Neutralizing Monoclonal Antibodies Cross-Protective against H5N1 and H1N1 Recovered from Human IgM+ Memory B Cells
2008

Human Monoclonal Antibodies Against H5N1 and H1N1 Influenza Viruses

Sample size: 10 publication 10 minutes Evidence: high

Author Information

Author(s): Mark Throsby, Edward van den Brink, Mandy Jongeneelen, Leo L. M. Poon, Philippe Alard, Lisette Cornelissen, Arjen Bakker, Freek Cox, Els van Deventer, Yi Guan, Jindrich Cinatl, Jan ter Meulen, Ignace Lasters, Rita Carsetti, Malik Peiris, John de Kruif, Jaap Goudsmit

Primary Institution: Crucell Holland BV, Leiden, The Netherlands

Hypothesis

The IgM+ B cell subset contains a diverse repertoire of antibodies against conserved epitopes on pathogens.

Conclusion

The human monoclonal CR6261 could be developed for use as a broad spectrum agent for prophylaxis or treatment of human or avian influenza infections.

Supporting Evidence

  • The most potent antibody (CR6261) was protective in mice when given before and after lethal H5N1 or H1N1 challenge.
  • CR6261 neutralized all H1 clade and H9 clade viruses, except for one of the H2N2 isolates.
  • CR6261 treatment at day five post-infection was still able to protect 50% of mice.

Takeaway

Scientists found a special antibody that can help protect against different types of flu viruses, even ones that are very different from each other.

Methodology

A panel of 13 monoclonal antibodies was recovered from combinatorial display libraries constructed from human IgM+ memory B cells of recent influenza vaccinees.

Limitations

The study does not clarify whether the IgM+ memory B cells expressing cross-neutralizing specificities participate in a true recall response upon vaccination.

Participant Demographics

Ten normal healthy donors, including three vaccinated with seasonal influenza vaccine.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pone.0003942

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