Structural Basis for a Neutralizing Antibody Response Elicited by a Recombinant Hantaan Virus Gn Immunogen
Ilona Rissanen, Stefanie A. Krumm, Robert Stass, Annalis Whitaker, James E. Voss, Emily A. Bruce, Sylvia Rothenberger, Stefan Kunz, Dennis R. Burton, Juha T. Huiskonen, Jason Botten, Thomas A. Bowden, Katie J. Doores
Abstract
The spillover of pathogenic hantaviruses from rodent reservoirs into the human population poses a continued threat to human health. Here, we show that a recombinant form of the Hantaan virus (HTNV) surface-displayed glycoprotein, Gn, elicits a neutralizing antibody response in rabbits. We isolated a neutralizing (HTN-Gn1) and a non-neutralizing (nnHTN-Gn2) monoclonal antibody and provide the first molecular-level insights into how the Gn glycoprotein may be targeted by the antibody-mediated immune response. These findings may guide rational vaccine design approaches focused on targeting the hantavirus glycoprotein envelope.