Development and characterization of novel chimeric monoclonal antibodies for broad spectrum neutralization of rabies virus

PLoS One. 2017 Oct 18;12(10):e0186380. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0186380. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

Current post-exposure prophylaxis for rabies virus infection has several limitations in terms of supply, cost, safety, and efficacy. Attempts to replace human or equine rabies immune globulins (HRIG or ERIG) have been made by several companies and institutes. We developed potent monoclonal antibodies to neutralize a broad spectrum of rabies viruses by screening hybridomas received from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Two kinds of chimeric human antibodies (chimeric #7 and #17) were constructed by cloning the variable regions from selected hybridomas and the constant region of a human antibody. Two antibodies were bound to antigenic site III and I/IV, respectively, and were able to neutralize 51 field isolates of rabies virus that were isolated at different times and places such as Asia, Africa, North America, South America, and Australia. These two antibodies neutralize rabies viruses with high efficacy in an in vivo test using Syrian hamster and mouse models and show low risk for adverse immunogenicity.

MeSH terms

  • Africa
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / administration & dosage*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / genetics
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / immunology
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / administration & dosage*
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / genetics
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / immunology
  • Asia
  • Australia
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Horses / virology
  • Humans
  • Hybridomas / immunology
  • Mesocricetus / virology
  • Mice
  • North America
  • Rabies / immunology
  • Rabies / prevention & control*
  • Rabies / virology
  • Rabies virus / immunology*
  • Rabies virus / pathogenicity
  • South America
  • United States

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing

Grants and funding

The authors received no specific funding for this work.