Anti-West Nile Virus antibodies provide protection from WNV infection: protective antibodies recognize diverse WNV proteins

Abstract We demonstrate here that goose-derived anti-West Nile Virus (WNV) antibodies are both protective against WNV infection and specific for a broad spectrum of WNV proteins. WNV is a Flavivirus that predominantly infects birds via a mosquito vector. The majority of humans infected with WNV demonstrate mild flu-like symptoms. However, a small number of human WNV cases result in meningitis and encephalitis, which can ultimately lead to paralysis or death. The epidemiology of WNV infections indicates that a population-wide vaccine is neither necessary nor cost-effective. An effective passive therapeutic antibody treatment would, however, provide an excellent alternative for individuals with WNV infection involving the CNS. We have demonstrated that antibodies, purified from geese naturally infected with WNV, protects both avian and mammals from WNV infection. WNV-infected golden hamsters receiving goose anti-WNV antibodies demonstrated 100% survival while all of the infected animals receiving a sham treatment perished. Characterization of the WNV-specific goose antibodies indicates a polyclonal response with diverse specificities, including WNV proteins E, pre-M and NS3. This diverse reactivity suggests enhanced protection both in the recognition of various replicative and envelope components and potentially across various WNV strains. DOE "Goose Diagnostic and Therapeutic Antibodies to West Nile Virus and AI"