An Effective Prophylactic and Therapeutic Protection Against Botulinum Type A Intoxication in Mice and Rabbits Using a Humanized Monoclonal Antibody

Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) are the most potent toxins on Earth and are classified as Category A biological agents. BoNTs lead to paralysis in humans and cause botulism. Antibody therapeutics can effectively treat toxin-mediated infectious diseases. In this study, we generated a pharmaceutical hum...

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Main Authors: Chi Ho Yu, Young-Jo Song, Dong Hyun Song, Hae Eun Joe, Chang-Hwan Kim, Hyungseok Yun, Na Young Kim, Euni Sim, Seong Tae Jeong, Gyeung Haeng Hur
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Toxins
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/17/3/138
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author Chi Ho Yu
Young-Jo Song
Dong Hyun Song
Hae Eun Joe
Chang-Hwan Kim
Hyungseok Yun
Na Young Kim
Euni Sim
Seong Tae Jeong
Gyeung Haeng Hur
author_facet Chi Ho Yu
Young-Jo Song
Dong Hyun Song
Hae Eun Joe
Chang-Hwan Kim
Hyungseok Yun
Na Young Kim
Euni Sim
Seong Tae Jeong
Gyeung Haeng Hur
author_sort Chi Ho Yu
collection DOAJ
description Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) are the most potent toxins on Earth and are classified as Category A biological agents. BoNTs lead to paralysis in humans and cause botulism. Antibody therapeutics can effectively treat toxin-mediated infectious diseases. In this study, we generated a pharmaceutical humanized monoclonal antibody (HZ45 mAb) to prevent or treat botulism. HZ45 binds to the heavy chain receptor (HCR) domain of the toxin, preventing the toxin from entering the cell. The mAb was produced using hybridoma technology and phage display. We evaluated HZ45 mAb for the neutralization of BoNT serotype A (BoNT/A) in mice and rabbits. The survival results showed that pretreatment with HZ45 mAb provided 100% protection at a dose of 0.1 mg per mouse against a maximum of 100 LD<sub>50</sub> of BoNT/A. To assess the therapeutic efficacy of HZ45 mAb in New Zealand white rabbits (NZWs), a 5 mg dose was administered 4 or 8 h after challenge with 10 LD<sub>50</sub>. The results indicated that 5 mg of HZ45 could treat the NZWs within 8 h after exposure to 10 LD<sub>50</sub> botulinum. Consequently, in an in vivo context, including mice and rabbits, HZ45 mAb could protect against botulinum type A intoxication.
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spelling doaj-art-8ae02c730e404817bc8f5fefbb6acdd22025-08-20T02:43:04ZengMDPI AGToxins2072-66512025-03-0117313810.3390/toxins17030138An Effective Prophylactic and Therapeutic Protection Against Botulinum Type A Intoxication in Mice and Rabbits Using a Humanized Monoclonal AntibodyChi Ho Yu0Young-Jo Song1Dong Hyun Song2Hae Eun Joe3Chang-Hwan Kim4Hyungseok Yun5Na Young Kim6Euni Sim7Seong Tae Jeong8Gyeung Haeng Hur9Agency for Defense Development, Yuseong, P.O. Box 35, Daejeon 305-600, Republic of KoreaAgency for Defense Development, Yuseong, P.O. Box 35, Daejeon 305-600, Republic of KoreaAgency for Defense Development, Yuseong, P.O. Box 35, Daejeon 305-600, Republic of KoreaAgency for Defense Development, Yuseong, P.O. Box 35, Daejeon 305-600, Republic of KoreaAgency for Defense Development, Yuseong, P.O. Box 35, Daejeon 305-600, Republic of KoreaAgency for Defense Development, Yuseong, P.O. Box 35, Daejeon 305-600, Republic of KoreaABION Inc., Seoul 08394, Republic of KoreaABION Inc., Seoul 08394, Republic of KoreaAgency for Defense Development, Yuseong, P.O. Box 35, Daejeon 305-600, Republic of KoreaAgency for Defense Development, Yuseong, P.O. Box 35, Daejeon 305-600, Republic of KoreaBotulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) are the most potent toxins on Earth and are classified as Category A biological agents. BoNTs lead to paralysis in humans and cause botulism. Antibody therapeutics can effectively treat toxin-mediated infectious diseases. In this study, we generated a pharmaceutical humanized monoclonal antibody (HZ45 mAb) to prevent or treat botulism. HZ45 binds to the heavy chain receptor (HCR) domain of the toxin, preventing the toxin from entering the cell. The mAb was produced using hybridoma technology and phage display. We evaluated HZ45 mAb for the neutralization of BoNT serotype A (BoNT/A) in mice and rabbits. The survival results showed that pretreatment with HZ45 mAb provided 100% protection at a dose of 0.1 mg per mouse against a maximum of 100 LD<sub>50</sub> of BoNT/A. To assess the therapeutic efficacy of HZ45 mAb in New Zealand white rabbits (NZWs), a 5 mg dose was administered 4 or 8 h after challenge with 10 LD<sub>50</sub>. The results indicated that 5 mg of HZ45 could treat the NZWs within 8 h after exposure to 10 LD<sub>50</sub> botulinum. Consequently, in an in vivo context, including mice and rabbits, HZ45 mAb could protect against botulinum type A intoxication.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/17/3/138botulinum neurotoxinmonoclonal antibodymouserabbit
spellingShingle Chi Ho Yu
Young-Jo Song
Dong Hyun Song
Hae Eun Joe
Chang-Hwan Kim
Hyungseok Yun
Na Young Kim
Euni Sim
Seong Tae Jeong
Gyeung Haeng Hur
An Effective Prophylactic and Therapeutic Protection Against Botulinum Type A Intoxication in Mice and Rabbits Using a Humanized Monoclonal Antibody
Toxins
botulinum neurotoxin
monoclonal antibody
mouse
rabbit
title An Effective Prophylactic and Therapeutic Protection Against Botulinum Type A Intoxication in Mice and Rabbits Using a Humanized Monoclonal Antibody
title_full An Effective Prophylactic and Therapeutic Protection Against Botulinum Type A Intoxication in Mice and Rabbits Using a Humanized Monoclonal Antibody
title_fullStr An Effective Prophylactic and Therapeutic Protection Against Botulinum Type A Intoxication in Mice and Rabbits Using a Humanized Monoclonal Antibody
title_full_unstemmed An Effective Prophylactic and Therapeutic Protection Against Botulinum Type A Intoxication in Mice and Rabbits Using a Humanized Monoclonal Antibody
title_short An Effective Prophylactic and Therapeutic Protection Against Botulinum Type A Intoxication in Mice and Rabbits Using a Humanized Monoclonal Antibody
title_sort effective prophylactic and therapeutic protection against botulinum type a intoxication in mice and rabbits using a humanized monoclonal antibody
topic botulinum neurotoxin
monoclonal antibody
mouse
rabbit
url https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/17/3/138
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