(Press-News.org) Army scientists have demonstrated, for the first time, that antibody-based therapies can successfully protect monkeys from the deadly Ebola and Marburg viruses. In addition, the animals were fully protected even when treatment was administered two days post-infection, an accomplishment unmatched by any experimental therapy for these viruses to date. The work appears in this week's electronic edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The filoviruses, Ebola and Marburg, cause hemorrhagic fever with human case fatality rates as high as 90 percent. They are a global health concern and are considered potential biological threat agents. Currently there are no available vaccines or therapies approved for use in humans, making the development of such products a high priority.
In the article, John M. Dye, Andrew S. Herbert, William D. Pratt, and colleagues from the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) describe using antibody from monkeys that had previously survived challenge with lethal doses of filoviruses under controlled laboratory conditions. These survivors had developed high levels of antibody to ward off disease. Investigators collected blood serum from these animals, purified it and tested it for virus-neutralizing activity before commencing with their work.
In the first study, monkeys infected with Marburg virus were treated with antibody 15 to 30 minutes post-exposure, with additional treatments on days 4 and 8. The animals were completely protected, with no signs of disease or detectable levels of virus in their bloodstreams. Furthermore, all the monkeys generated an immune response to Marburg virus and survived subsequent re-challenge with the virus.
In the next set of studies, monkeys were infected with either Ebola or Marburg virus and treatments were delayed 48 hours, with additional treatments on days 4 and 8 post-exposure. The delayed treatments protected both sets of animals from challenge. In each group, two of the three animals had no clinical signs of illness following treatment, with the third developing mild symptoms followed by full recovery.
For nearly a decade, the filovirus research community has disregarded antibody-based therapies due to numerous failed attempts to protect monkeys against filovirus challenge, according to Dye.
"The use of antibodies as a treatment for infectious diseases is a well-established technology, with multiple products having received approval from the Food and Drug Administration," said Dye. "With these findings, we have provided proof-of concept that antibody-based therapies can indeed be used to effectively treat filovirus infections."
Dye said the USAMRIID team is hopeful that its work will open new avenues for development of filovirus therapies for human use.
###
USAMRIID's mission is to protect the warfighter from biological threats and to be prepared to investigate disease outbreaks or threats to public health. Research conducted at USAMRIID leads to medical solutions—vaccines, drugs, diagnostics, and information—that benefit both military personnel and civilians. The Institute plays a key role as the lead military medical research laboratory for the Defense Threat Reduction Agency's Joint Science and Technology Office for Chemical and Biological Defense. USAMRIID is a subordinate laboratory of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command.
Reference: Postexposure antibody prophylaxis protects nonhuman primates from filovirus disease. John M. Dye, Andrew S. Herbert, Ana I. Kuehne, James F. Barth, Majidat A. Muhammad, Samantha E. Zak, Ramon A. Ortiz, Laura I. Prugar, and William D. Pratt: PNAS Early Edition (published online at www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.1200409109).
For more information about USAMRIID: www.usamriid.army.mil
END
STORRS, Conn. – The American public's growing skepticism in recent years about the existence of man-made global warming is rooted in apprehension about the troubled economy, a University of Connecticut study suggests.
Lyle Scruggs, associate professor of political science in UConn's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, says the public's belief in climate change dropped significantly as the economy dipped and unemployment climbed in the late 2000s.
His research with UConn political science graduate student Salil Benegal found that popular alternative explanations -- ...
Evidence uncovered during research conducted in Florence's Palazzo Vecchio late last year appears to support the theory that a lost Leonardo da Vinci painting existed on the east wall of the Hall of the 500, behind Giorgio Vasari's mural "The Battle of Marciano." The data supporting the theoretical location of the da Vinci painting "The Battle of Anghiari" was obtained through the use of an endoscopic probe that was inserted through the wall on which the Vasari fresco was painted. The probe was fitted with a camera and allowed a team of researchers, led by scientist Maurizio ...
Do a Google image search for "Greece." Before you find pictures of the Parthenon or Acropolis, you'll see several beautiful photos of Santorini, the picturesque island in the Aegean Sea. The British Broadcasting Company named it the world's best island in 2011. Santorini is a tourist magnet, famous for its breathtaking, cliff side views and sunsets.
It's also a volcanic island that has been relatively calm since its last eruption in 1950. Until now. The Santorini caldera is awake again and rapidly deforming at levels never seen before. Georgia Tech Associate Professor ...
South Dennis dentist Dr. Michael Bittrich's service to the community does not stop with his dental practice. For the fifth year in a row, he is riding his bike in the Pan Massachusetts Challenge to raise money for cancer research and treatment on Aug. 4 and 5th, 2012.
Last year the event raised $35 million and the Dennis dentist and his "Miles for Mary" team were able to raise more than 55 thousand dollars. The money raised from the event is donated to the Jimmy Fund and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Both organizations strive to both provide expert cancer ...
From routine dental care to cosmetic procedures, including Dania dental implants, patients can now request an appointment with Dr. Tamara Rojas, dentist in Hollywood, FL. This new feature allows patients to easily request an appointment even when the office is closed.
As many patients maintain a busy day-to-day schedule, it is often hard for them to find a moment to call the office during operating hours. With online appointment requesting patients can request an appointment with Dr. Rojas, Hallandale dentist, from their office, car or from the comfort of their own ...
To develop a prototype and then test it right away under everyday conditions of use is not an easy undertaking, and setbacks are practically preprogrammed. The hydrogen powered street cleaning vehicle, which took about 18 months to develop and began trials in Basel in 2009, is no exception. "It became clear relatively quickly that the fuel cell system, which had been developed as a one-of specially for the project, was not yet ready for use in a real-life setting," explains project leader Christian Bach, head of Empa's Internal Combustion Engines Laboratory. "On top of ...
At Smile Enhancement Studio, Dr. Mary Sue Stonisch, Grosse Pointe dentist, is dedicated to providing patients with the best quality dental care available at an affordable rate. Dr. Stonisch encourages patients to visit her interactive website at http://www.smileenhancementstudio.com to find updated practice specials for discounted dental care.
When patients visit the specials page, the first offer is a "BOGO Special." With this special, patients can receive buy one, get one free teeth whitening in Grosse Pointe. For a discounted price of #361 patients can ...
DURHAM, N.C. -- Candidates with lower-pitched voices may get more votes in the 2012 election.
A new study by biologists and a political scientist shows that both men and women prefer political candidates with deeper voices. The results also suggest that biology -- not just partisanship or ideology – can shape voters' choices.
"We often make snap judgments about candidates without full knowledge of their policies or positions. These findings might help explain why," said Duke University biologist Rindy Anderson.
"It's clear that our voices carry more information than ...
When patients are suffering from foot or ankle pain, they are often in search of the quickest and easiest way to find relief. Dr. Scott Melamed, five star reviewed podiatrist in 10010, is dedicated to finding new and improved ways of making receiving podiatric care easy. Through his interactive website, Dr. Melamed is pleased to offer patients a new feature for easy, convenient appointment requesting.
Foot pain in Gramercy Park, NY can interrupt a patient's daily schedule. If a patient experiences any pain or other complications with their foot or ankle, they can immediately ...
They can estimate whether native plants in the neighbourhood of invasive species incorporate the nitrogen fixed by the latter. The biologists examined the Sydney Golden Wattle (Acacia longifolia), an Australian shrub that has established itself in Mediterranean climates worldwide. They found that the invasive species threatens native ecosystems not only through its prolific growth but also by fertilizing the surrounding soil with nitrogen – this effect markedly extended beyond the area occupied by the invader. This innovative method (called 15N isoscapes) is being published ...
