A neutralizing anti-gH/gL monoclonal antibody is protective in the guinea pig model of congenital CMV infection

PLoS Pathog. 2014 Apr 10;10(4):e1004060. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1004060. eCollection 2014 Apr.

Abstract

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is the most common cause of congenital virus infection. Congenital HCMV infection occurs in 0.2-1% of all births, and causes birth defects and developmental abnormalities, including sensorineural hearing loss and developmental delay. Several key studies have established the guinea pig as a tractable model for the study of congenital HCMV infection and have shown that polyclonal antibodies can be protective. In this study, we demonstrate that an anti-guinea pig CMV (GPCMV) glycoprotein H/glycoprotein L neutralizing monoclonal antibody protects against fetal infection and loss in the guinea pig. Furthermore, we have delineated the kinetics of GPCMV congenital infection, from maternal infection (salivary glands, seroconversion, placenta) to fetal infection (fetus and amniotic fluid). Our studies support the hypothesis that a neutralizing monoclonal antibody targeting an envelope GPCMV glycoprotein can protect the fetus from infection and may shed light on the therapeutic intervention of HCMV congenital infection in humans.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / immunology
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / pharmacology*
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / immunology
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / pharmacology*
  • Antibodies, Viral / immunology
  • Antibodies, Viral / pharmacology*
  • Cytomegalovirus / immunology*
  • Cytomegalovirus Infections / congenital*
  • Cytomegalovirus Infections / drug therapy*
  • Cytomegalovirus Infections / immunology
  • Cytomegalovirus Infections / pathology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Guinea Pigs
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • Antibodies, Viral

Grants and funding

This research was funded by Genentech, Inc./Hoffmann La-Roche. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish or any preparation of the manuscript.