Generation and characterization of neutralizing antibodies against M1R and B6R proteins of monkeypox virus

Abstract The global outbreak of monkeypox virus (MPXV), combined with the termination of smallpox vaccination and the lack of specific antiviral treatments, raises increasing concerns. The surface proteins M1R and B6R of MPXV are crucial for virus transmission and serve as key targets for vaccine de...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Yuanyuan Qu, Wanbo Tai, Enhao Ma, Qiwei Jiang, Miao Fan, Wangcheng Xiao, Chongyu Tian, Yang Liu, Jianying Liu, Xinquan Wang, Jiwan Ge, Gong Cheng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-04-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58180-z
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850258805321891840
author Yuanyuan Qu
Wanbo Tai
Enhao Ma
Qiwei Jiang
Miao Fan
Wangcheng Xiao
Chongyu Tian
Yang Liu
Jianying Liu
Xinquan Wang
Jiwan Ge
Gong Cheng
author_facet Yuanyuan Qu
Wanbo Tai
Enhao Ma
Qiwei Jiang
Miao Fan
Wangcheng Xiao
Chongyu Tian
Yang Liu
Jianying Liu
Xinquan Wang
Jiwan Ge
Gong Cheng
author_sort Yuanyuan Qu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The global outbreak of monkeypox virus (MPXV), combined with the termination of smallpox vaccination and the lack of specific antiviral treatments, raises increasing concerns. The surface proteins M1R and B6R of MPXV are crucial for virus transmission and serve as key targets for vaccine development. In this study, a panel of human antibodies targeting M1R and B6R is isolated from a human antibody library using phage display technology. Among these antibodies, A138 against M1R and B026 against B6R show the most potent broad-spectrum neutralizing activities against MPXV and Vaccinia virus (VACV). When used in combination, A138 and B026 exhibit complementary neutralizing activity against both viruses in vitro. X-ray crystallography reveales that A138 binds to the loop regions of M1R, similar to the vulnerable epitope of 7D11 on VACV L1R. By contrast, A129 targets a more cryptic epitope, primarily comprising the β-strands of M1R. Moreover, prophylactic and therapeutic administration of A138 or B026 alone provides partial protection, while combining these two antibodies results in enhanced protection against VACV in male C57BL/6 mice. This study demonstrates of a dual-targeting strategy using two different components of the virion for the prevention and treatment of MPXV infection.
format Article
id doaj-art-2766eae8fdda47fabf7e8f64cf49bb3b
institution OA Journals
issn 2041-1723
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Nature Communications
spelling doaj-art-2766eae8fdda47fabf7e8f64cf49bb3b2025-08-20T01:56:01ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-04-0116111610.1038/s41467-025-58180-zGeneration and characterization of neutralizing antibodies against M1R and B6R proteins of monkeypox virusYuanyuan Qu0Wanbo Tai1Enhao Ma2Qiwei Jiang3Miao Fan4Wangcheng Xiao5Chongyu Tian6Yang Liu7Jianying Liu8Xinquan Wang9Jiwan Ge10Gong Cheng11Institute of Infectious Diseases, Shenzhen Bay LaboratoryInstitute of Infectious Diseases, Shenzhen Bay LaboratoryNew Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Tsinghua University-Peking University Joint Center for Life Sciences, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tsinghua UniversityChangchun Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Key Laboratory of Jilin Province for Zoonosis Prevention and ControlKey Laboratory of Pathogen Infection Prevention and Control (MOE), State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity, National Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical CollegeInstitute of Infectious Diseases, Shenzhen Bay LaboratoryInstitute of Infectious Diseases, Shenzhen Bay LaboratoryInstitute of Infectious Diseases, Shenzhen Bay LaboratoryInstitute of Infectious Diseases, Shenzhen Bay LaboratoryThe Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Protein Science, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua UniversityKey Laboratory of Pathogen Infection Prevention and Control (MOE), State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity, National Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical CollegeNew Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Tsinghua University-Peking University Joint Center for Life Sciences, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tsinghua UniversityAbstract The global outbreak of monkeypox virus (MPXV), combined with the termination of smallpox vaccination and the lack of specific antiviral treatments, raises increasing concerns. The surface proteins M1R and B6R of MPXV are crucial for virus transmission and serve as key targets for vaccine development. In this study, a panel of human antibodies targeting M1R and B6R is isolated from a human antibody library using phage display technology. Among these antibodies, A138 against M1R and B026 against B6R show the most potent broad-spectrum neutralizing activities against MPXV and Vaccinia virus (VACV). When used in combination, A138 and B026 exhibit complementary neutralizing activity against both viruses in vitro. X-ray crystallography reveales that A138 binds to the loop regions of M1R, similar to the vulnerable epitope of 7D11 on VACV L1R. By contrast, A129 targets a more cryptic epitope, primarily comprising the β-strands of M1R. Moreover, prophylactic and therapeutic administration of A138 or B026 alone provides partial protection, while combining these two antibodies results in enhanced protection against VACV in male C57BL/6 mice. This study demonstrates of a dual-targeting strategy using two different components of the virion for the prevention and treatment of MPXV infection.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58180-z
spellingShingle Yuanyuan Qu
Wanbo Tai
Enhao Ma
Qiwei Jiang
Miao Fan
Wangcheng Xiao
Chongyu Tian
Yang Liu
Jianying Liu
Xinquan Wang
Jiwan Ge
Gong Cheng
Generation and characterization of neutralizing antibodies against M1R and B6R proteins of monkeypox virus
Nature Communications
title Generation and characterization of neutralizing antibodies against M1R and B6R proteins of monkeypox virus
title_full Generation and characterization of neutralizing antibodies against M1R and B6R proteins of monkeypox virus
title_fullStr Generation and characterization of neutralizing antibodies against M1R and B6R proteins of monkeypox virus
title_full_unstemmed Generation and characterization of neutralizing antibodies against M1R and B6R proteins of monkeypox virus
title_short Generation and characterization of neutralizing antibodies against M1R and B6R proteins of monkeypox virus
title_sort generation and characterization of neutralizing antibodies against m1r and b6r proteins of monkeypox virus
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58180-z
work_keys_str_mv AT yuanyuanqu generationandcharacterizationofneutralizingantibodiesagainstm1randb6rproteinsofmonkeypoxvirus
AT wanbotai generationandcharacterizationofneutralizingantibodiesagainstm1randb6rproteinsofmonkeypoxvirus
AT enhaoma generationandcharacterizationofneutralizingantibodiesagainstm1randb6rproteinsofmonkeypoxvirus
AT qiweijiang generationandcharacterizationofneutralizingantibodiesagainstm1randb6rproteinsofmonkeypoxvirus
AT miaofan generationandcharacterizationofneutralizingantibodiesagainstm1randb6rproteinsofmonkeypoxvirus
AT wangchengxiao generationandcharacterizationofneutralizingantibodiesagainstm1randb6rproteinsofmonkeypoxvirus
AT chongyutian generationandcharacterizationofneutralizingantibodiesagainstm1randb6rproteinsofmonkeypoxvirus
AT yangliu generationandcharacterizationofneutralizingantibodiesagainstm1randb6rproteinsofmonkeypoxvirus
AT jianyingliu generationandcharacterizationofneutralizingantibodiesagainstm1randb6rproteinsofmonkeypoxvirus
AT xinquanwang generationandcharacterizationofneutralizingantibodiesagainstm1randb6rproteinsofmonkeypoxvirus
AT jiwange generationandcharacterizationofneutralizingantibodiesagainstm1randb6rproteinsofmonkeypoxvirus
AT gongcheng generationandcharacterizationofneutralizingantibodiesagainstm1randb6rproteinsofmonkeypoxvirus