Human monoclonal antibodies targeting infectious pathogens

National Institute Of Allergy And Infectious Diseases

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

The overarching goal of this project is to study the immune response to pathogens at the monoclonal level to increase our understanding of basic biology and develop new tools to combat disease. We are currently focusing our efforts on human monoclonal antibodies against Plasmodium falciparum and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. For P. falciparum, we are examining antibodies against various stages of the life cycle, including sporozoites, blood stages and transmission stages. We are starting work on characterizing human antibodies against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In FY25, we investigated the antibody response to blood-stage P. falciparum, as well as to antigens on the sporozoite surface. In the sporozoite project, we identified unusual antibodies that target the pGlu-CSP epitope, which is generated after two sequential parasite processing steps. These antibodies can potently prevent malaria in vivo. We have published on this work in the journal Science.