Broadly neutralizing antibodies protect against hepatitis C virus quasispecies challenge

M Law, T Maruyama, J Lewis, E Giang, AW Tarr… - Nature medicine, 2008 - nature.com
M Law, T Maruyama, J Lewis, E Giang, AW Tarr, Z Stamataki, P Gastaminza, FV Chisari
Nature medicine, 2008nature.com
A major problem in hepatitis C virus (HCV) immunotherapy or vaccine design is the extreme
variability of the virus. We identified human monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that neutralize
genetically diverse HCV isolates and protect against heterologous HCV quasispecies
challenge in a human liver–chimeric mouse model. The results provide evidence that
broadly neutralizing antibodies to HCV protect against heterologous viral infection and
suggest that a prophylactic vaccine against HCV may be achievable.
Abstract
A major problem in hepatitis C virus (HCV) immunotherapy or vaccine design is the extreme variability of the virus. We identified human monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that neutralize genetically diverse HCV isolates and protect against heterologous HCV quasispecies challenge in a human liver–chimeric mouse model. The results provide evidence that broadly neutralizing antibodies to HCV protect against heterologous viral infection and suggest that a prophylactic vaccine against HCV may be achievable.
nature.com