Structural highlights
Publication Abstract from PubMed
Host-cell entry of the highly pathogenic rabies virus (RABV) is mediated by glycoprotein (G) spikes, which also comprise the primary target for the humoral immune response. RABV glycoprotein (RABV-G) displays several antigenic sites that are targeted by neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). In this study, we determined the epitope of a potently neutralizing human mAb, CR57, which we engineered into a diabody format to facilitate crystallization. We report the crystal structure of the CR57 diabody alone at 2.38 A resolution, and in complex with RABV-G domain III at 2.70 A resolution. The CR57-RABV-G structure reveals critical interactions at the antigen interface, which target the conserved "KLCGVL" peptide and residues proximal to it on RABV-G. Structural analysis combined with a cell-cell fusion assay demonstrates that CR57 effectively inhibits RABV-G-mediated fusion by obstructing the fusogenic transitions of the spike protein. Altogether, this investigation provides a structural perspective on RABV inhibition by a potently neutralizing human antibody.
Structural insight into rabies virus neutralization revealed by an engineered antibody scaffold.,Kedari A, Iheozor-Ejiofor R, Salminen P, Ugurlu H, Makela AR, Levanov L, Vapalahti O, Hytonen VP, Saksela K, Rissanen I Structure. 2024 Oct 25:S0969-2126(24)00437-4. doi: 10.1016/j.str.2024.10.002. PMID:39471803[1]
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
References
- ↑ Kedari A, Iheozor-Ejiofor R, Salminen P, Uğurlu H, Mäkelä AR, Levanov L, Vapalahti O, Hytönen VP, Saksela K, Rissanen I. Structural insight into rabies virus neutralization revealed by an engineered antibody scaffold. Structure. 2024 Oct 25:S0969-2126(24)00437-4. PMID:39471803 doi:10.1016/j.str.2024.10.002