title: Human monoclonal antibody as prophylaxis for SARS coronavirus infection in ferrets.
abstract: SARS coronavirus continues to cause sporadic cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in China. No active or passive immunoprophylaxis for disease induced by SARS coronavirus is available. We investigated prophylaxis of SARS coronavirus infection with a neutralising human monoclonal antibody in ferrets, which can be readily infected with the virus. Prophylactic administration of the monoclonal antibody at 10 mg/kg reduced replication of SARS coronavirus in the lungs of infected ferrets by 3.3 logs (95% CI 2.6-4.0 logs; p<0.001), completely prevented the development of SARS coronavirus-induced macroscopic lung pathology (p=0.013), and abolished shedding of virus in pharyngeal secretions. The data generated in this animal model show that administration of a human monoclonal antibody might offer a feasible and effective prophylaxis for the control of human SARS coronavirus infection.
authors.affiliation: Crucell Holland BV, Leiden, Netherlands. j.termeulen@crucell.com
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: ter Meulen
authors.forename: Alexander B H
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Bakker
authors.forename: Edward N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: van den Brink
authors.forename: Gerrit J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Weverling
authors.forename: Byron E E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Martina
authors.forename: Bart L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Haagmans
authors.forename: Thijs
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kuiken
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: de Kruif
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Preiser
authors.forename: Willy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Spaan
authors.forename: Hans R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Gelderblom
authors.forename: Jaap
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Goudsmit
authors.forename: Albert D M E
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Osterhaus
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005289:Ferrets; D006801:Humans; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D045473:Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007074:Immunoglobulin G