Development of a highly protective combination monoclonal antibody therapy against Chikungunya virus

PLoS Pathog. 2013;9(4):e1003312. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1003312. Epub 2013 Apr 18.

Abstract

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a mosquito-transmitted alphavirus that causes global epidemics of a debilitating polyarthritis in humans. As there is a pressing need for the development of therapeutic agents, we screened 230 new mouse anti-CHIKV monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) for their ability to inhibit infection of all three CHIKV genotypes. Four of 36 neutralizing MAbs (CHK-102, CHK-152, CHK-166, and CHK-263) provided complete protection against lethality as prophylaxis in highly susceptible immunocompromised mice lacking the type I IFN receptor (Ifnar(-/-) ) and mapped to distinct epitopes on the E1 and E2 structural proteins. CHK-152, the most protective MAb, was humanized, shown to block viral fusion, and require Fc effector function for optimal activity in vivo. In post-exposure therapeutic trials, administration of a single dose of a combination of two neutralizing MAbs (CHK-102+CHK-152 or CHK-166+CHK-152) limited the development of resistance and protected immunocompromised mice against disease when given 24 to 36 hours before CHIKV-induced death. Selected pairs of highly neutralizing MAbs may be a promising treatment option for CHIKV in humans.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural

MeSH terms

  • 3T3 Cells
  • Aedes
  • Alphavirus Infections / immunology
  • Alphavirus Infections / prevention & control*
  • Alphavirus Infections / therapy*
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / immunology*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use*
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / immunology
  • Antibodies, Viral / immunology
  • Antibodies, Viral / therapeutic use*
  • Cell Line
  • Chikungunya Fever
  • Chikungunya virus / immunology
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Receptor, Interferon alpha-beta / genetics*
  • Vero Cells
  • Viral Envelope Proteins / immunology
  • Viral Structural Proteins / immunology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Ifnar1 protein, mouse
  • Viral Envelope Proteins
  • Viral Structural Proteins
  • Receptor, Interferon alpha-beta