Successful post-exposure prophylaxis of Ebola infected non-human primates using Ebola glycoprotein-specific equine IgG

Sci Rep. 2017 Feb 3:7:41537. doi: 10.1038/srep41537.

Abstract

Herein we describe production of purified equine IgG obtained from horses immunized with plasmid DNA followed by boosting with Kunjin replicon virus-like particles both encoding a modified Ebola glycoprotein. Administration of the equine IgG over 5 days to cynomolgus macaques infected 24 hours previously with a lethal dose of Ebola virus suppressed viral loads by more than 5 logs and protected animals from mortality. Animals generated their own Ebola glycoprotein-specific IgG responses 9-15 days after infection, with circulating virus undetectable by day 15-17. Such equine IgG may find utility as a post-exposure prophylactic for Ebola infection and provides a low cost, scalable alternative to monoclonal antibodies, with extensive human safety data and WHO-standardized international manufacturing capability available in both high and low income countries.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / immunology
  • Antibodies, Viral / administration & dosage*
  • Antibodies, Viral / immunology
  • Antibodies, Viral / isolation & purification
  • Antibody Specificity / immunology
  • Antigens, Viral / immunology*
  • Ebolavirus / immunology*
  • Glycoproteins / immunology
  • Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / immunology*
  • Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / prevention & control*
  • Horses
  • Immunoglobulin G / administration & dosage*
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology
  • Immunoglobulin G / isolation & purification
  • Macaca fascicularis
  • Post-Exposure Prophylaxis*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Antigens, Viral
  • Glycoproteins
  • Immunoglobulin G