Potently neutralizing and protective anti-human metapneumovirus antibodies target diverse sites on the fusion glycoprotein

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is a leading cause of acute lower respiratory tract infections in high-risk populations, yet there are no vaccines or anti-viral therapies approved for the prevention or treatment of hMPV-associated disease. Here, we used a high-throughput single-cell technology to inter...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Rappazzo, C Garrett, Hsieh, Ching-Lin, Rush, Scott A, Esterman, Emma S, Delgado-Romero, Teresa, Geoghegan, James C, Wec, Anna Z, Sakharkar, Mrunal, Mas-Lloret, Vicente, McLellan, Jason S, Walker, Laura M
Format: article
Publication Date:2022
Country:España
Institution:Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII)
Repository:Repisalud
Language:English
OAI Identifier:oai:repisalud.isciii.es:20.500.12105/16032
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12105/16032
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Antibodies, Neutralizing
Antibodies, Viral
Metapneumovirus
Respiratory Tract Infections
Aged
Animals
Epitopes
Glycoproteins
Humans
Viral Fusion Proteins
Young Adult
Description
Summary:Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is a leading cause of acute lower respiratory tract infections in high-risk populations, yet there are no vaccines or anti-viral therapies approved for the prevention or treatment of hMPV-associated disease. Here, we used a high-throughput single-cell technology to interrogate memory B cell responses to the hMPV fusion (F) glycoprotein in young adult and elderly donors. Across all donors, the neutralizing antibody response was primarily directed to epitopes expressed on both pre- and post-fusion F conformations. However, we identified rare, highly potent broadly neutralizing antibodies that recognize pre-fusion-specific epitopes and structurally characterized an antibody that targets a site of vulnerability at the pre-fusion F trimer apex. Additionally, monotherapy with neutralizing antibodies targeting three distinct antigenic sites provided robust protection against lower respiratory tract infection in a small animal model. This study provides promising monoclonal antibody candidates for passive immunoprophylaxis and informs the rational design of hMPV vaccine immunogens.