mAbs vs infectious diseases
Recent research by scientists at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) has found that monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have shown potential as treatments for infectious diseases and as a prevention tool for protecting individuals at risk of infection and slowing disease outbreaks.
mAbs are preparations of a specific type of antibody that are designed to bind to a specific target. They have shown promise in the fight against cancer and autoimmune diseases and this new research indicates they may be able to play a role in future battles against emerging infectious disease outbreaks.
The research article was written by IAID Director Dr Anthony S. Fauci and colleagues Dr Hilary D. Marston and Dr Catharine I. Paules, and published by the New England Journal of Medicine. It highlights the research advances that could allow for rapid, strategic deployment of mAbs to prevent and treat emerging infectious diseases – and, potentially, alter the course of epidemics.
mAbs with optimised targeting and other characteristics can be developed, which means their activity can be tailored to serve specific treatment and prevention purposes. During the 2014-16 Ebola outbreak, for example, a small clinical trial of the drug ZMapp, which contains three different mAbs, appeared to show a drop in mortality among infected volunteers who received the experimental therapeutic. Also, research in lab animals has suggested that mAbs may play a role in protecting pregnant women in Zika-endemic areas and their foetuses from infection.
In addition, research suggests that mAbs aimed at specific targets on the influenza virus could treat influenza disease and interrupt transmission when used preventatively in uninfected individuals.
According to the authors, global leaders can improve preparedness for treating and preventing emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases by prioritising research on mAbs against infectious diseases.