Rational design of an Epstein-Barr virus vaccine targeting the receptor-binding site

M Kanekiyo, W Bu, MG Joyce, G Meng, JRR Whittle… - Cell, 2015 - cell.com
M Kanekiyo, W Bu, MG Joyce, G Meng, JRR Whittle, U Baxa, T Yamamoto, S Narpala…
Cell, 2015cell.com
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) represents a major global health problem. Though it is associated
with infectious mononucleosis and∼ 200,000 cancers annually worldwide, a vaccine is not
available. The major target of immunity is EBV glycoprotein 350/220 (gp350) that mediates
attachment to B cells through complement receptor 2 (CR2/CD21). Here, we created self-
assembling nanoparticles that displayed different domains of gp350 in a symmetric array. By
focusing presentation of the CR2-binding domain on nanoparticles, potent neutralizing …
Summary
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) represents a major global health problem. Though it is associated with infectious mononucleosis and ∼200,000 cancers annually worldwide, a vaccine is not available. The major target of immunity is EBV glycoprotein 350/220 (gp350) that mediates attachment to B cells through complement receptor 2 (CR2/CD21). Here, we created self-assembling nanoparticles that displayed different domains of gp350 in a symmetric array. By focusing presentation of the CR2-binding domain on nanoparticles, potent neutralizing antibodies were elicited in mice and non-human primates. The structurally designed nanoparticle vaccine increased neutralization 10- to 100-fold compared to soluble gp350 by targeting a functionally conserved site of vulnerability, improving vaccine-induced protection in a mouse model. This rational approach to EBV vaccine design elicited potent neutralizing antibody responses by arrayed presentation of a conserved viral entry domain, a strategy that can be applied to other viruses.
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