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Influenza virus infection is a prevalent disease in humans. Antibodies against hemagglutinin have been shown to prevent infection and hence hemagglutinin is the major constituent of current vaccines. Antibodies directed against the highly conserved extracellular domain of M2 have also been shown to mediate protection against Influenza A infection in various animal models. Active vaccination is generally considered the best approach to combat viral diseases. However, passive immunization is an attractive alternative, particularly in acutely exposed or immune compromized individuals, young children and the elderly. We recently described a novel method for the rapid isolation of natural human antibodies by mammalian cell display. Here we used this approach to isolate human monoclonal antibodies directed against the highly conserved extracellular domain of the Influenza A M2 protein. The identified antibodies bound M2 peptide with high affinities, recognized native cell-surface expressed M2 and protected mice from a lethal influenza virus challenge. Moreover, therapeutic treatment up to 2 days after infection was effective, suggesting that M2-specific monoclonals have a great potential as immunotherapeutic agents against Influenza infection.

Original publication

DOI

10.1186/1743-422X-6-224

Type

Journal article

Journal

Virol J

Publication Date

21/12/2009

Volume

6

Keywords

Amino Acid Sequence, Animals, Antibodies, Monoclonal, Antibody Specificity, Cell Line, Cricetinae, Disease Models, Animal, Female, Humans, Immunization, Passive, Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype, Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype, Influenza Vaccines, Mice, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Molecular Sequence Data, Orthomyxoviridae Infections, Treatment Outcome, Viral Matrix Proteins