Antibody Development Strategies for SFTSV: From Hybridoma to Emerging Technologies

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging zoonotic disease caused by the tick-borne SFTS virus (SFTSV), with a case fatality rate of 16.2-32.6% in East Asia. Currently, no approved vaccines or antiviral treatments exist. Monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapy offers rapid immune protection and is a promising strategy against SFTSV. This review outlines advances in SFTSV neutralizing mAb research, covering conventional generation methods (hybridoma, phage display) and innovative approaches such as single B cell sequencing. We also introduce computational tools like artificial intelligence -assisted epitope prediction and in silico mAb design. Furthermore, we discuss the structure-function relationships of mAbs targeting Gn and Gc glycoproteins, their mechanisms (e.g., fusion inhibition, receptor blockade), and key functional attributes including breadth, potency, and cross-reactivity. Challenges such as limited epitope accessibility, immune interference, and antibody-dependent enhancement are highlighted. Finally, we propose a multipronged strategy integrating structure-guided engineering, high-throughput screening, and rigorous preclinical evaluation to accelerate the development of safe and effective SFTSV therapeutics.