Scientists have investigated a promising therapeutic approach for the hepatitis E virus (HEV). In a recent study, a monoclonal antibody (MAb) significantly reduced the viral load in infected pigs. These results open up new perspectives for the treatment of HEV infection in humans.
Hepatitis E virus poses a significant health risk to humans. In Europe, the majority of infections are caused by the zoonotic genotype 3 (HEV-3). Immunocompromised patients and those with pre-existing liver disease are particularly at risk, as chronic infection can lead to fatal cirrhosis.
As part of the study, a team of researchers at the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute (FLI) investigated the efficacy of antibody therapy using an established HEV-3 pig model. First, new monoclonal antibodies against the viral capsid protein were developed and tested for their neutralising effect in vitro. The most effective antibody, MAb 5F6A1, was then tested in a porcine infection model. The antibody was administered intravenously on days one and seven after infection.
The results show that MAb 5F6A1 was able to significantly reduce the viral load in the blood and the viral shedding of the infected pigs. This provides important insights into the course of HEV infection in pigs and highlights the potential of antibody therapy as a treatment option for humans.
This study is an important step in the development of new therapies against HEV and could help to control infection in high-risk groups in the future.
The study was funded by the Seed Grant project 'Vaccines to inhibit autochthonous transmission of hepatitis E - VaccinATE' as part of the establishment of the Helmholtz Institute for One Health in Greifswald. Dr Elmira Aliabadi and Dr Patrick Behrendt from Twincore, the Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research in Hanover, were involved in the study as collaborators.
