New Antibodies Targeting EBV Proteins Show Promise in Preventing Infection in Mice
Researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and the University of Washington developed ten new antibodies targeting two Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) surface proteins, gp350 and gp42. In mouse models with human-like immune systems, one antibody successfully prevented EBV infection. This approach addresses the difficulty of finding specific immune responses to EBV, which infects nearly all B cells. The findings, published in Cell Reports Medicine, suggest potential future applications in preventing post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD) in immunosuppressed patients, particularly children, though human clinical trials are still pending.