title: Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus complex-specific monoclonal antibody provides broad protection, in murine models, against airborne challenge with viruses from serogroups I, II and III.
abstract: The alphavirus Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) is highly infectious by the airborne route. It is a hazard to laboratory workers, has been developed as a biological weapon and is a potential bioterrorist agent. A suitable vaccine appears in an advanced stage of development but there remains a need for antiviral drugs, effective in prophylaxis of disease prior to or a short time after exposure to airborne virus. Using a murine model to study monoclonal antibody (MAB) a VEEV complex-specific, glycoprotein E2-binding MAB was identified, able to protect against disease induced by exposure to aerosolised VEEV from serogroups I, II and IIIA (mouse-virulent strains). There was no synergy in protection between anti-E1 and anti-E2 MAB. Assays of MAB virus neutralising activity in a homologous (mouse fibroblast) cell line suggested that neutralisation played a significant role in protection in addition to the previously reported mechanism of Fc receptor-binding [Mathews et al., 1985. J. Virol. 55, 594-600]. Development of an analogous human MAB with identical VEEV epitope specificity may be informed and monitored by reference to these properties.
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Sciences, Dstl, Porton Down, Salisbury SP4 0JQ, UK. bjphillpotts@dstl.gov.uk
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Phillpotts
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D023482:Bioterrorism / Q000517:prevention & control; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D004666:Encephalitis Virus, Venezuelan Equine / Q000276:immunology*; D004685:Encephalomyelitis, Venezuelan Equine / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005347:Fibroblasts; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; C064956:glycoprotein E2, equine encephalitis virus