Breakthrough in Measles Research: New Antibody mAb 77 Shows Promise
Researchers at the La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) Center for Vaccine Innovation have made significant progress in the fight against measles. Their recent discovery of a new antibody, mAb 77, shows promising results in preventing the measles virus from completing its fusion process with human cells.
The measles virus is known for its efficient and dangerous ability to take over host cells, replicate, and spread rapidly. In populations with low vaccination rates, the virus poses a significant health threat, especially to children.
By using an advanced imaging technique called cryo-electron microscopy, the LJI team gained valuable insights into the fusion process of the measles virus. The study, led by Dr. Erica Ollmann Saphire, Ph.D., and Dr. Matteo Porotto, Ph.D., revealed how antibody mAb 77 can neutralize the virus, preventing it from completing the fusion process.
Dr. Saphire emphasized the importance of this discovery not only for measles but also for other viruses in the paramyxovirus family, such as the Nipah virus. The images captured through cryo-electron microscopy show how mAb 77 interferes with the fusion process, halting the virus’s ability to infect human cells.
The successful engineering of a stable version of the measles fusion glycoprotein enabled the researchers to examine the impact of mAb 77 on the fusion process. By locking the glycoprotein in an intermediate state, the antibody prevents the virus from entering human cells, offering a potential new avenue for treatment.
In experiments using cotton rat models, mAb 77 demonstrated significant protection against measles, reducing infection signs in lung tissue. The researchers believe that mAb 77 could be part of a treatment cocktail to protect against measles or treat active infections, highlighting the potential for new therapies against the virus.
The collaboration between the LJI team and researchers at Columbia University has been instrumental in advancing this research. By combining expertise in structural biology, cell biology, and virology, the teams have made remarkable progress in understanding the fusion mechanisms of viruses and developing targeted treatments.
The study’s findings, published in the peer-reviewed journal Science, provide critical insights into the fusion processes of viruses and lay the groundwork for future research on measles and other paramyxoviruses. As scientists continue to uncover the mechanisms of viral fusion, new treatments could emerge to combat infectious diseases and improve health outcomes worldwide.
