A Combination of Two Human Monoclonal Antibodies Prevents Zika Virus Escape Mutations in Non-human Primates.
Keeffe, J.R., Van Rompay, K.K.A., Olsen, P.C., Wang, Q., Gazumyan, A., Azzopardi, S.A., Schaefer-Babajew, D., Lee, Y.E., Stuart, J.B., Singapuri, A., Watanabe, J., Usachenko, J., Ardeshir, A., Saeed, M., Agudelo, M., Eisenreich, T., Bournazos, S., Oliveira, T.Y., Rice, C.M., Coffey, L.L., MacDonald, M.R., Bjorkman, P.J., Nussenzweig, M.C., Robbiani, D.F.(2018) Cell Rep 25: 1385-1394.e7
- PubMed: 30403995 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2018.10.031
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
6DFI, 6DFJ - PubMed Abstract: 
Zika virus (ZIKV) causes severe neurologic complications and fetal aberrations. Vaccine development is hindered by potential safety concerns due to antibody cross-reactivity with dengue virus and the possibility of disease enhancement. In contrast, passive administration of anti-ZIKV antibodies engineered to prevent enhancement may be safe and effective. Here, we report on human monoclonal antibody Z021, a potent neutralizer that recognizes an epitope on the lateral ridge of the envelope domain III (EDIII) of ZIKV and is protective against ZIKV in mice. When administered to macaques undergoing a high-dose ZIKV challenge, a single anti-EDIII antibody selected for resistant variants. Co-administration of two antibodies, Z004 and Z021, which target distinct sites on EDIII, was associated with a delay and a 3- to 4-log decrease in peak viremia. Moreover, the combination of these antibodies engineered to avoid enhancement prevented viral escape due to mutation in macaques, a natural host for ZIKV.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.