A rabies-specific human monoclonal antibody that protects mice against lethal rabies

According to a recommendation from WHO (World Health Organisation) for prevention of a possible rabies infection, active vaccination has to be combined with application of immunoglobulin to get a fast protective effect. At present, preparations of purified human or equine rabies-specific immunoglobulin are used. We have generated a human rabies-specific monoclonal antibody (huMAb) by immortalization of human B-cells with Epstein Barr Virus (EBV), followed by fusion with a mouse myeloma cell. The resulting clone TW-1 secrets an IgG1 lambda huMAb which specifically reacts in ELISA with 5 laboratory rabies virus strains of serotype 1 and DUV3 (Duvenhage, serotype 4). Western Blot analysis revealed fine specificity for the G glycoprotein (gp67) of rabies virus. HuMAb TW-1 neutralizes rabies virus in vitro (RFFIT) as well as in vivo and protects rabies infected mice. Compared to polyclonal human rabies immunoglobulins, huMAb TW-1 is advantageous, because of its defined specificity and the very low amounts of total protein needed for therapeutic effects.