Intranasal administration of a panreactive influenza antibody reveals Fc-independent mode of protection

Abstract Monoclonal antibodies have two core mechanisms of protection: an antibody’s antigen-binding fragment (Fab) can bind and neutralize viral pathogens and its fragment crystallizable domain (Fc) catalyzes effector functions. We investigated the relative contribution of Fab- versus Fc-mediated m...

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Main Authors: Anna L. Beukenhorst, Keira L. Rice, Jacopo Frallicciardi, Martin H. Koldijk, Carolyn M. Boudreau, Justin Crawford, Lisette A. H. M. Cornelissen, Kelly A. S. da Costa, Babette A. de Jong, Stephanie Fischinger, Boris Julg, Jaco M. Klap, Clarissa M. Koch, Zoltán Magyarics, Faez A. Nait Mohamed, Vintus Okonkwo, Lindsey Adams, Caitlin M. McCarthy, Larance Ronsard, Nigel Temperton, Helene Vietsch, Kanin Wichapong, Bertjan Ziere, Daniel Lingwood, Jaap Goudsmit
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-04-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-94314-5
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Summary:Abstract Monoclonal antibodies have two core mechanisms of protection: an antibody’s antigen-binding fragment (Fab) can bind and neutralize viral pathogens and its fragment crystallizable domain (Fc) catalyzes effector functions. We investigated the relative contribution of Fab- versus Fc-mediated mechanisms of protection through passive administration of distinct forms of the pan-reactive anti-influenza antibody CR9114. We demonstrated that the contribution of Fc-independent (Fab-dependent) versus Fc-dependent mechanisms of protection is defined by the route of administration. We used CR9114 variants (wild-type, two Fc-silenced variants, or the bivalent antigen-binding fragment F(ab′)2), administered either intravenously or intranasally. We found that intravenously-administered CR9114 requires the Fc domain to provide potent, pre-exposure protection against influenza A and B viral challenge. In contrast, when CR9114 was administered locally to the nasal mucosa, the main mode of protection was provided by F(ab′)2, and was largely Fc-independent. Importantly, this mode of protection following intranasal administration also applied to non-neutralized influenza B strains. Moreover, intranasal administration resulted in an increase in potency against influenza A/H1N1, A/H5N1, A/H3N2, B/Yam and B/Vic compared to intravenous administration up to 50-fold. These results shed new light on the application of monoclonal antibodies such as CR9114 to combat viral infection locally, and will help inform clinical strategies of pre-exposure prophylaxis. More fundamentally, this study uncovers distinct modes of protection for systemic versus intranasally-administered prophylactic antibodies.
ISSN:2045-2322