Antibody Breakthrough Blocks Epstein-Barr Virus in Mice, Could Aid Transplant Patients

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infects about 95% of adults and can persist for life, with links to cancers and other complications. A team from Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and the University of Washington developed human-like antibodies targeting EBV surface proteins gp350 and gp42, isolating 10 candidates. In mice with humanized immune systems, one antibody provided protection against EBV, demonstrating a new approach to prevent infection and reactivation. The work could help immunosuppressed transplant patients by reducing EBV-related complications (PTLD), but human safety testing and clinical trials are still needed. Published in Cell Reports Medicine (2026).