Successful treatment of ebola virus-infected cynomolgus macaques with monoclonal antibodies.
Ebola virus (EBOV) is considered one of the most aggressive infectious agents and is capable of causing death in humans and nonhuman primates (NHPs) within days of exposure. Recent strategies have succeeded in preventing acquisition of infection in NHPs after treatment; however, these strategies are only successful when administered before or minutes after infection. The present work shows that a combination of three neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) directed against the Ebola envelope glycoprotein (GP) resulted in complete survival (four of four cynomolgus macaques) with no apparent side effects when three doses were administered 3 days apart beginning at 24 hours after a lethal challenge with EBOV. The same treatment initiated 48 hours after lethal challenge with EBOV resulted in two of four cynomolgus macaques fully recovering. The survivors demonstrated an EBOV-GP-specific humoral and cell-mediated immune response. These data highlight the important role of antibodies to control EBOV replication in vivo, and support the use of mAbs against a severe filovirus infection.
National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 3R2, Canada.
Xiangguo
X
Qiu
Jonathan
J
Audet
Gary
G
Wong
Stephane
S
Pillet
Alexander
A
Bello
Teresa
T
Cabral
Jim E
JE
Strong
Frank
F
Plummer
Cindy R
CR
Corbett
Judie B
JB
Alimonti
Gary P
GP
Kobinger
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D029043:Ebolavirus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D019142:Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects; D056724:Immunity, Humoral / Q000187:drug effects; D008251:Macaca / Q000821:virology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal