Khaberni - Scientists at the "Fred Hutch" Cancer Research Center have achieved a significant scientific breakthrough in efforts to disable the "Epstein–Barr" virus.
The Epstein–Barr virus, also known as the kissing disease virus, is one of the most widespread viruses in the world, with an estimated 95% of adults infected at some stage of their lives. It mainly transmits through saliva, but can also be transmitted through blood or organ transplantation, making organ transplant patients and immunocompromised individuals at risk.
Although most infections during childhood or adolescence are asymptomatic, the virus can cause infectious mononucleosis in some infected individuals, characterized by severe fever, fatigue, sore throat, and swollen lymph glands. The virus remains dormant in the immune system cells after infection and can be reactivated later, linking it to a range of diseases, including certain types of cancer such as Hodgkin's lymphoma and nasopharyngeal carcinoma, as well as degenerative neurological disorders.
The research team, using genetically engineered mouse models carrying human antibody genes, developed monoclonal human antibodies that successfully prevented the virus from binding to and entering human immune cells by targeting two key proteins on the virus's surface.
The study, published in the journal "Cell Reports Medicine," showed that one of the newly discovered antibodies completely prevented infection in mouse models with a human immune system, while another antibody provided partial protection.
Andrew McGuire, a researcher in the Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Division at the center, said that finding human antibodies capable of disabling the Epstein-Barr virus is a complex scientific challenge, noting that the virus has a unique ability to bind to most B cells in the immune system.
He added: "We decided to resort to modern techniques to bridge a long-standing knowledge gap, and we succeeded in taking a decisive step towards disabling one of the most common viruses in the world."
A new scientific approach
The researchers focused on targeting two key proteins, "gp350," responsible for the virus's attachment to cell receptors, and "gp42," which enables the virus to fuse with and infect immune cells.
Using a mouse model that carries human antibody genes, the team successfully developed two antibodies targeting "gp350," and eight antibodies targeting "gp42," while avoiding triggering an immune response, a common issue in treatments based on animal-derived antibodies.
Researcher Crystal Chan, a PhD student involved in the study, said that the results not only identify effective antibodies against the virus but also confirm the feasibility of a new scientific approach that could be used to discover protective antibodies against other pathogens.
This achievement is particularly important for organ and bone marrow transplant patients, who number over 128,000 annually in the United States alone, as there are currently no specific preventative treatments available to prevent Epstein-Barr virus reactivation in immunosuppressed patients.
Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD), mostly associated with the virus, are serious complications that can be life-threatening for patients.
The researchers look forward to developing future treatments based on injecting these antibodies to prevent the virus reactivation in the most susceptible groups, especially transplant patients and children who have not previously been exposed to the virus.
The center has announced that it has filed for intellectual property protection for the discovered antibodies, while the research team, in collaboration with industrial partners, is working to transition this discovery from the lab to clinical trials.
McGuire said: "After many years of research for an effective way to protect against the Epstein-Barr virus, we believe we have made a significant step that could truly make a difference for patients most at risk of its complications.".
