Description:
West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that can cause fever and, in some cases, severe neurologic disease. There is no approved human vaccine or specific antiviral treatment for WNV.
Researchers at NIAID's Vaccine Research Center (VRC), working with collaborators at Sheba Medical Center under the PREMISE program, identified five new human monoclonal antibodies that potently neutralize WNV. These antibodies bind the viral envelope (E) protein, with data indicating recognition of E dimers or quaternary epitopes on the virion.
The invention includes compositions comprising the antibodies alone or in combination, nucleic acids encoding them, vectors and host cells for production, and methods for preventing, treating, or detecting WNV infection. The antibodies may be formulated for therapeutic administration, including emergency-use settings, and may also support diagnostic and research applications.