Breakthrough in Structure and Antibodies Offers Hope for Treatments

Lassa virus, a severe and potentially fatal infection prevalent in West Africa, has long posed a significant health threat. With no widely approved treatments or vaccines available, scientists at Scripps Research have made a breakthrough in understanding the virus’s mechanism. Through their research, they successfully determined the structure of a critical protein complex involved in Lassa virus infection. Furthermore, they identified new antibodies that bind to these proteins, neutralizing the virus and offering promising avenues for developing effective vaccines and treatments.

Understanding Lassa Virus and the Need for Treatment

Lassa virus is responsible for causing Lassa fever, a disease that affects hundreds of thousands of individuals in West Africa each year. Sadly, it can lead to severe illness, long-term side effects, and even death. The absence of approved treatments or vaccines has amplified the urgency to find viable solutions for combating this deadly virus.

Protein Complex Structure Enables Lassa Infection

In a significant breakthrough, scientists at Scripps Research, led by senior author Dr. Andrew Ward, have successfully determined the structure of a vital protein complex that enables the Lassa virus to infect human cells. Their findings, published in Cell Reports, shed light on the molecular mechanism of the virus and its potential vulnerabilities, opening doors to targeted interventions (1^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Structural conservation of Lassa virus glycoproteins and recognition by neutralizing antibodies

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Discovery of New Antibodies with Lassa Virus-Neutralizing Capabilities

The research team’s study also involved identifying novel antibodies that bind to the Lassa virus proteins, effectively neutralizing the virus. These antibodies, isolated from blood samples of individuals who recovered from the Lassa virus, provide a valuable foundation for the development of treatments and preventive vaccines. With this breakthrough, researchers have taken a significant step toward broad protection against multiple lineages of the Lassa virus.

Lassa virus comprises different lineages with minor genetic variations, making it challenging to identify antibodies that can effectively combat all versions of the virus. Previous attempts to isolate the glycoproteins, which are crucial targets for antibodies, were hindered by the inability to obtain them in their native trimer complexes. However, the research team’s innovative use of nanoparticles allowed them to successfully isolate and structurally characterize glycoprotein trimers from four different Lassa virus lineages.