Neutralizing Antibodies Against Kaposi’s Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus A set of human-derived neutralizing antibodies against KSHV derived from KSHV-infected donors. <p>Kaposi’s Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus (KSHV) is an oncogenic human gamma herpesvirus responsible for Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) and several rare but severe lymphoproliferative disorders. Infection is typically lifelong and clinically silent in immunocompetent individuals but becomes pathogenic under immunosuppression. Currently, there are no approved antivirals or prophylactic antibodies specific to KSHV, leaving the patients under immunosuppression highly vulnerable. Researchers at Fred Hutch have now used patient-derived serum to identify and characterize specific targets that could be used for vaccine development. Moreover, several high affinity neutralizing antibodies have also been isolated for research and therapeutic use. </p> <ul> <li>Prophylactics to prevent KSHV infection in immune-compromised/-suppressed patients and prevent the development of Kaposi’s sarcoma.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Targets protein that is essential for infectivity</ul> <ul> <li>Andrew McGuire, PhD – Associate Professor, Immunology and Vaccine Development Program, VIDD, FH</li> <li>Jim Boonyaratanakornkit, MD, PhD – Assistant Professor, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine</li> </ul> Preclinical in vivo characterization completed mcguirekshvmabs.pdf KSHV | HHV8 | antibody | Fab |neutralization | protein engineering | fusogen |therapeutics | antivirals | vaccine kshvantibodies