Mechanistic basis for potent neutralization of Sin Nombre hantavirus by a human monoclonal antibody.
Stass, R., Engdahl, T.B., Chapman, N.S., Wolters, R.M., Handal, L.S., Diaz, S.M., Crowe Jr., J.E., Bowden, T.A.(2023) Nat Microbiol 8: 1293-1303
- PubMed: 37322112 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41564-023-01413-y
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
8AHN - PubMed Abstract: 
Rodent-borne hantaviruses are prevalent worldwide and upon spillover to human populations, cause severe disease for which no specific treatment is available. A potent antibody response is key for recovery from hantavirus infection. Here we study a highly neutralizing human monoclonal antibody, termed SNV-42, which was derived from a memory B cell isolated from an individual with previous Sin Nombre virus (SNV) infection. Crystallographic analysis demonstrates that SNV-42 targets the Gn subcomponent of the tetrameric (Gn-Gc) 4 glycoprotein assembly that is relevant for viral entry. Integration of our 1.8 Å structure with the (Gn-Gc) 4 ultrastructure arrangement indicates that SNV-42 targets the membrane-distal region of the virus envelope. Comparison of the SNV-42 paratope encoding variable genes with inferred germline gene segments reveals high sequence conservation, suggesting that germline-encoded antibodies inhibit SNV. Furthermore, mechanistic assays reveal that SNV-42 interferes with both receptor recognition and fusion during host-cell entry. This work provides a molecular-level blueprint for understanding the human neutralizing antibody response to hantavirus infection.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.