title: Identification and characterization of broadly neutralizing human monoclonal antibodies directed against the E2 envelope glycoprotein of hepatitis C virus.
abstract: Nearly all livers transplanted into hepatitis C virus (HCV)-positive patients become infected with HCV, and 10 to 25% of reinfected livers develop cirrhosis within 5 years. Neutralizing monoclonal antibody could be an effective therapy for the prevention of infection in a transplant setting. To pursue this treatment modality, we developed human monoclonal antibodies (HuMAbs) directed against the HCV E2 envelope glycoprotein and assessed the capacity of these HuMAbs to neutralize a broad panel of HCV genotypes. HuMAb antibodies were generated by immunizing transgenic mice containing human antibody genes (HuMAb mice; Medarex Inc.) with soluble E2 envelope glycoprotein derived from a genotype 1a virus (H77). Two HuMAbs, HCV1 and 95-2, were selected for further study based on initial cross-reactivity with soluble E2 glycoproteins derived from genotypes 1a and 1b, as well as neutralization of lentivirus pseudotyped with HCV 1a and 1b envelope glycoproteins. Additionally, HuMAbs HCV1 and 95-2 potently neutralized pseudoviruses from all genotypes tested (1a, 1b, 2b, 3a, and 4a). Epitope mapping with mammalian and bacterially expressed proteins, as well as synthetic peptides, revealed that HuMAbs HCV1 and 95-2 recognize a highly conserved linear epitope spanning amino acids 412 to 423 of the E2 glycoprotein. The capacity to recognize and neutralize a broad range of genotypes, the highly conserved E2 epitope, and the fully human nature of the antibodies make HuMAbs HCV1 and 95-2 excellent candidates for treatment of HCV-positive individuals undergoing liver transplantation.
authors.affiliation: MassBiologics, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02130, USA.
authors.forename: Teresa J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Broering
authors.forename: Kerry A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Garrity
authors.forename: Naomi K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Boatright
authors.forename: Susan E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Sloan
authors.forename: Frantisek
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sandor
authors.forename: William D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Gyongyi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Szabo
authors.forename: Robert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Finberg
authors.forename: Donna M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Ambrosino
authors.forename: Gregory J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Babcock
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D018604:Epitope Mapping; D018985:Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018985:Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; C091015:glycoprotein E2, Hepatitis C virus