Protective and Therapeutic Capacity of Human Single-Chain Fv-Fc Fusion Proteins against West Nile Virus

• DOI: 10.1128/jvi.79.23.14606-14613.2005
• Publication Date: 2005-11-10T18:12:58Z
• Authors: L. Hannah Gould; Jianhua Sui; Harald Foellmer; Theodore Oliphant; Tian Wang; Michel Ledizet; Akikazu Murakami; Kristin Noonan; Cassandra Lambeth; Kalipada Kar; John F. Anderson; Aravinda M. de Silva; Michael S. Diamond; Raymond A. Koski; Wayne A. Marasco; Erol Fikrig
• Keywords: Flavivirus; West Nile virus; Dengue vaccine; Antibody-dependent enhancement

West Nile virus has spread rapidly across the United States, and there is currently no approved human vaccine or therapy to prevent treat disease. Passive immunization with antibodies against envelope protein represents a promising means provide short-term prophylaxis treatment for infection. In this study, we identified panel of 11 unique single-chain variable region antibody fragments (scFvs) that bind virus. Selected scFvs were converted Fc fusion proteins (scFv-Fcs) tested in mice their ability lethal Five these scFv-Fcs, 11, 15, 71, 85, 95, protected 100% from death when given prior infection Two them, 80% at days 1 4 after addition, four scFv-Fcs cross-neutralized dengue virus, serotype 2. Binding assays using yeast surface display demonstrated all our sites within domains I II protein. These recombinant are potential candidates immunoprophylaxis flavivirus infections.