Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Facebook Instagram Threads
    Global BiodefenseGlobal Biodefense
    Subscribe
    • Featured News
    • Funding
    • Directory
    • Jobs
    • Events
    Global BiodefenseGlobal Biodefense
    Featured News

    Ebola Survivor Antibodies Neutralize Virus in Lab Mice

    By Global Biodefense StaffOctober 27, 2016
    Ebola Virus Particle
    Share
    Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Email

    A study by scientists at the Emory Vaccine Center, in collaboration with the biotechnology company Atreca, Inc., has found that antibodies generated from the blood of survivors of Ebola virus disease can strongly neutralize the Ebola virus in the laboratory and protect mice from a lethal viral challenge.

    The research was presented at the annual Grand Challenges Meeting of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in London on Oct. 26, 2016. The Gates Foundation provided funding for the Atreca antibody research and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) provided funding for the studies led by Emory. Carl Davis, MD, PhD, a research fellow in the laboratory of Emory Vaccine Director Rafi Ahmed, and Guy Cavet, PhD, senior vice president and chief technology officer at Atreca, presented the research.

    Emory University Hospital treated four patients with Ebola virus disease in Fall of 2014 and, with the patients’ permission, collected samples of their blood for further research.

    Using Atreca’s Immune Repertoire Capture technology, the research team was able to isolate antibodies from the blood of the survivors. These antibodies were evaluated by a DARPA-funded consortium that included teams at the Aaron Diamond Aids Research Center, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Scripps Research Institute, Stanford University, the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine, and the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID).

    “This collaborative research has allowed us to broaden our understanding of the Ebola virus, as well as related viruses such as Marburg virus,” says Ahmed. “We have learned a great deal about how the human immune system can develop effective antibodies against the Ebola virus and which parts of the virus may be most vulnerable to the immune response. The identification of neutralizing antibodies that can protect against a viral challenge from so few patients so quickly is also a very exciting outcome, offering the potential for further research that we hope can lead to both therapeutic agents and vaccines against a rapidly evolving Ebola virus.”

    Ebola USAMRIID
    Share. Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Email
    Previous ArticleUF Ebola Research Efforts Recognized by Aspen Institute Italia
    Next Article Spotlight: Decontamination of Anthrax in Public Water Infrastructure

    Related Stories

    New Method Improves Quantification of Ricin in Complex Matrices

    September 20, 2023

    Jurata Thin Film and CastleVax Awarded Grant to Advance Thermostabilized COVID-19 Booster

    September 20, 2023

    Mount Sinai to Lead Development of Pan-Coronavirus Vaccine Under New Federal Grant

    September 17, 2023

    Mass Spec for Rapid Detection of Biological Warfare Agents

    September 15, 2023
    News Scan

    Biodefense Headlines – 19 September 2023

    News Scan September 19, 2023

    News highlights on health security threats and countermeasures curated by Global Biodefense This week’s selections include a global survey of gain-of-function research; funding of an mRNA mpox vaccine; Nipah virus outbreak in India; field detection of threat agents with acoustic…

    Upcoming Events

    Oct 3
    Virtual Event Virtual Event
    October 3 - October 5

    OneLab Summit 2023

    Oct 3
    Virtual Event Virtual Event
    12:00 pm - 2:00 pm EDT

    Public-Private Partnerships to Distribute, Dispense, and Administer Medical Countermeasures

    Oct 4
    Virtual Event Virtual Event
    10:00 am - 2:00 pm EDT

    Tunneling Nanotubes and Intracellular Protrusions Workshop

    Oct 12
    Virtual Event Virtual Event
    12:00 pm - 2:00 pm EDT

    Public-Private Partnerships for Acceptance and Uptake of Medical Countermeasures

    View Calendar

    Subscribe to Global Biodefense

    Get the latest news on pathogens and preparedness

    © 2023 Stemar Media Group LLC
    • About
    • Contact
    • Privacy
    • Subscribe

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.