A highly conserved neutralizing epitope on group 2 influenza A viruses

Science. 2011 Aug 12;333(6044):843-50. doi: 10.1126/science.1204839. Epub 2011 Jul 7.

Abstract

Current flu vaccines provide only limited coverage against seasonal strains of influenza viruses. The identification of V(H)1-69 antibodies that broadly neutralize almost all influenza A group 1 viruses constituted a breakthrough in the influenza field. Here, we report the isolation and characterization of a human monoclonal antibody CR8020 with broad neutralizing activity against most group 2 viruses, including H3N2 and H7N7, which cause severe human infection. The crystal structure of Fab CR8020 with the 1968 pandemic H3 hemagglutinin (HA) reveals a highly conserved epitope in the HA stalk distinct from the epitope recognized by the V(H)1-69 group 1 antibodies. Thus, a cocktail of two antibodies may be sufficient to neutralize most influenza A subtypes and, hence, enable development of a universal flu vaccine and broad-spectrum antibody therapies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / immunology*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / isolation & purification
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / immunology*
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / isolation & purification
  • Antibodies, Viral / immunology*
  • Antibodies, Viral / isolation & purification
  • Antibody Specificity
  • Antigens, Viral / chemistry
  • Antigens, Viral / genetics
  • Antigens, Viral / immunology*
  • Binding Sites, Antibody
  • Conserved Sequence
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Epitopes / immunology
  • Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus / chemistry
  • Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus / genetics
  • Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype / immunology
  • Influenza A Virus, H7N7 Subtype / genetics
  • Influenza A Virus, H7N7 Subtype / immunology
  • Influenza A virus / immunology*
  • Influenza Vaccines / immunology
  • Influenza, Human / immunology
  • Influenza, Human / prevention & control
  • Influenza, Human / therapy
  • Mice
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutation
  • Neutralization Tests
  • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / immunology
  • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / prevention & control
  • Protein Conformation

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Antigens, Viral
  • Epitopes
  • Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus
  • Influenza Vaccines

Associated data

  • GENBANK/JN093122
  • GENBANK/JN093123
  • PDB/3SDY