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A humanized monoclonal antibody produced in transgenic plants for immunoprotection of the vagina against genital herpes

Nature Biotechnology volume 16, pages 1361–1364 (1998)Cite this article

Abstract

The ability to produce monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) in plants offers the opportunity for the development of an inexpensive method of mucosal immunoprotection against sexually transmitted diseases. To investigate the suitability of plant-expressed Mabs for vaginal preventive applications, we compared a humanized anti–herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) Mab expressed in mammalian cell culture with the same antibody expressed in soybean. We found these Mabs to be similar in their stability in human semen and cervical mucus over 24 h, their ability to diffuse in human cervical mucus, and their efficacy for prevention of vaginal HSV-2 infection in the mouse.

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Figure 1
Figure 2: Fluorocytometry of HSV infected Vero cells stained with different doses of (A) mammalian-expressed Mab, (B) plant-expressed Mab, or (C) both (400 ng of each Mab).
Figure 3: In vitro neutralization of HSV-2.
Figure 4: In vivo protection by topically applied Mab against vaginal transmission of HSV-2.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. ReProtect, LLC, Baltimore, MD

    Larry Zeitlin, Thomas R. Moench, Richard A. Cone & Kevin J. Whaley

  2. The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore , MD

    Stuart S. Olmsted, Richard A. Cone & Kevin J. Whaley

  3. Agracetus Campus, Monsanto Co., Middleton , WI

    Brian J. Martinell, Vikram M. Paradkar & David R. Russell

  4. Protein Design Labs, Mountain View, CA

    Man Sung Co & Cary Queen

Authors
  1. Larry Zeitlin
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  2. Stuart S. Olmsted
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  4. Man Sung Co
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  8. Cary Queen
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Correspondence to Kevin J. Whaley.

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Zeitlin, L., Olmsted, S., Moench, T. et al. A humanized monoclonal antibody produced in transgenic plants for immunoprotection of the vagina against genital herpes. Nat Biotechnol 16, 1361–1364 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1038/4344

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