title: The development of monoclonal human rabies virus-neutralizing antibodies as a substitute for pooled human immune globulin in the prophylactic treatment of rabies virus exposure.
abstract: To provide a more defined and safer replacement for the human rabies immune globulin (HRIG) from pooled serum which is currently used for treatment of exposure to rabies virus we have developed a series of human rabies virus-specific monoclonal antibodies. Mouse-human heterohybrid myeloma cells producing rabies virus-specific human monoclonal antibodies were prepared using B cells obtained from volunteers recently-immunized with a commercial rabies virus vaccine (HDCV). Cell lines producing antibody which neutralized the Evelyn-Rokitnicki-Abelseth (ERA) rabies virus strain in vitro were cloned and the resulting monoclonal antibodies characterized for isotype, specificity against a variety of rabies virus isolates, and neutralization capacity. The ability of the monoclonal antibodies to neutralize a variety of rabies virus strains in vitro correlated with their binding specificity for these viruses in an enzyme-linked immunoadsorbant assay (ELISA). A number of these antibodies have proven suitable for the formulation of a prophylactic human monoclonal antibody-based reagent which would provide significant advantages to the HRIG in having defined, reproducible specificity, lessened possibility of contamination with viral pathogens, and consistent availability.
authors.affiliation: Center for Neurovirology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Thomas Jefferson University, Rm. 454 JAH, 1020 Locust St., Philadelphia, PA 19107-6799, USA.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Champion
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Kean
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Rupprecht
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Notkins
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Koprowski
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dietzschold
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Hooper
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology*; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D006801:Humans; D007116:Immunization, Passive / Q000379:methods*; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D011818:Rabies / Q000628:therapy*; D011820:Rabies virus / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000914:Antibodies, Viral