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Nature Medicine 11, 522 - 530 (2005)
Published online: 24 April 2005 | doi:10.1038/nm1240

Development of a humanized monoclonal antibody with therapeutic potential against West Nile virus

Theodore Oliphant1, Michael Engle2, Grant E Nybakken3, Chris Doane2, Syd Johnson4, Ling Huang4, Sergey Gorlatov4, Erin Mehlhop3, Anantha Marri2, Kyung Min Chung2, Gregory D Ebel5, Laura D Kramer5, Daved H Fremont3 & Michael S Diamond1,2,3


Neutralization of West Nile virus (WNV) in vivo correlates with the development of an antibody response against the viral envelope (E) protein. Using random mutagenesis and yeast surface display, we defined individual contact residues of 14 newly generated monoclonal antibodies against domain III of the WNV E protein. Monoclonal antibodies that strongly neutralized WNV localized to a surface patch on the lateral face of domain III. Convalescent antibodies from individuals who had recovered from WNV infection also detected this epitope. One monoclonal antibody, E16, neutralized 10 different strains in vitro, and showed therapeutic efficacy in mice, even when administered as a single dose 5 d after infection. A humanized version of E16 was generated that retained antigen specificity, avidity and neutralizing activity. In postexposure therapeutic trials in mice, a single dose of humanized E16 protected mice against WNV-induced mortality, and may therefore be a viable treatment option against WNV infection in humans.


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