1
|
Lacy M, Phasuk N, Scholand SJ. Human Rabies Treatment-From Palliation to Promise. Viruses 2024; 16:160. [PMID: 38275970 PMCID: PMC10819634 DOI: 10.3390/v16010160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Rabies encephalitis has plagued humankind for thousands of years. In developed countries, access to preventive care, both pre-exposure and post-exposure, has significantly reduced the burden of suffering and disease. However, around the world, rabies remains a neglected tropical disease, largely due to uncontrolled dog rabies, and tens of thousands perish each year. Currently, the standard of care for management of rabies encephalitis is palliation. Heroic attempts to treat human rabies patients over the last few decades have yielded glimpses into our understanding of pathophysiology, opening the door to the development of new antiviral therapies and modalities of treatment. Researchers continue to investigate new compounds and approaches to therapy, yet there remain real challenges given the complexity of the disease. We explore and review some of the promising therapies on the horizon in pursuit of a salvage treatment for rabies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marian Lacy
- College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA;
| | - Nonthapan Phasuk
- School of Medicine, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand;
| | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Rodriguez-Nuñez M, Cepeda MDV, Bello C, Lopez MA, Sulbaran Y, Loureiro CL, Liprandi F, Jaspe RC, Pujol FH, Rangel HR. Neutralization of Different Variants of SARS-CoV-2 by a F(ab')2 Preparation from Sera of Horses Immunized with the Viral Receptor Binding Domain. Antibodies (Basel) 2023; 12:80. [PMID: 38131802 PMCID: PMC10740526 DOI: 10.3390/antib12040080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The Receptor Binding Domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, is the functional region of the viral Spike protein (S), which is involved in cell attachment to target cells. The virus has accumulated progressively mutations in its genome, particularly in the RBD region, many of them associated with immune evasion of the host neutralizing antibodies. Some of the viral lineages derived from this evolution have been classified as Variant of Interest (VOI) or Concern (VOC). The neutralizing capacity of a F(ab')2 preparation from sera of horses immunized with viral RBD was evaluated by lytic plaque reduction assay against different SARS-CoV-2 variants. A F(ab')2 preparation of a hyperimmune serum after nine immunizations with RBD exhibited a high titer of neutralizing antibodies against the ancestral-like strain (1/18,528). A reduction in the titer of the F(ab')2 preparation was observed against the different variants tested compared to the neutralizing activity against the ancestral-like strain. The highest reduction in the neutralization titer was observed for the Omicron VOC (4.7-fold), followed by the Mu VOI (2.6), Delta VOC (1.8-fold), and Gamma VOC (1.5). Even if a progressive reduction in the neutralizing antibodies titer against the different variants evaluated was observed, the serum still exhibited a neutralizing titer against the Mu VOI and the Omicron VOC (1/7113 and 1/3918, respectively), the evaluated strains most resistant to neutralization. Therefore, the preparation retained neutralizing activity against all the strains tested.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mariajosé Rodriguez-Nuñez
- Laboratorio de Virología Molecular, Centro de Microbiología y Biología Celular, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, Caracas 1020, Venezuela; (M.R.-N.); (Y.S.); (C.L.L.); (R.C.J.)
| | - Mariana del Valle Cepeda
- Biotecfar S.A., Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas 1050, Venezuela; (M.d.V.C.); (C.B.); (M.A.L.)
| | - Carlos Bello
- Biotecfar S.A., Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas 1050, Venezuela; (M.d.V.C.); (C.B.); (M.A.L.)
| | - Miguel Angel Lopez
- Biotecfar S.A., Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas 1050, Venezuela; (M.d.V.C.); (C.B.); (M.A.L.)
| | - Yoneira Sulbaran
- Laboratorio de Virología Molecular, Centro de Microbiología y Biología Celular, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, Caracas 1020, Venezuela; (M.R.-N.); (Y.S.); (C.L.L.); (R.C.J.)
| | - Carmen Luisa Loureiro
- Laboratorio de Virología Molecular, Centro de Microbiología y Biología Celular, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, Caracas 1020, Venezuela; (M.R.-N.); (Y.S.); (C.L.L.); (R.C.J.)
| | - Ferdinando Liprandi
- Laboratorio de Biología de Virus, Centro de Microbiología y Biología Celular, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, Caracas 1020, Venezuela;
| | - Rossana Celeste Jaspe
- Laboratorio de Virología Molecular, Centro de Microbiología y Biología Celular, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, Caracas 1020, Venezuela; (M.R.-N.); (Y.S.); (C.L.L.); (R.C.J.)
| | - Flor Helene Pujol
- Laboratorio de Virología Molecular, Centro de Microbiología y Biología Celular, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, Caracas 1020, Venezuela; (M.R.-N.); (Y.S.); (C.L.L.); (R.C.J.)
| | - Héctor Rafael Rangel
- Laboratorio de Virología Molecular, Centro de Microbiología y Biología Celular, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, Caracas 1020, Venezuela; (M.R.-N.); (Y.S.); (C.L.L.); (R.C.J.)
| |
Collapse
|