Reduction in morbidity of rotavirus induced diarrhoea in mice by yeast produced monovalent llama-derived antibody fragments

• Published in: Vaccine 2006-05, Vol.24 (19), p.4130-4137
• Main Authors: van der Vaart, J.M., Pant, N., Wolvers, D., Bezemer, S., Hermans, P.W., Bellamy, K., Sarker, S.A., van der Logt, C.P.E., Svensson, L., Verrips, C.T., Hammarstrom, L., van Klinken, B.J.W.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Antibodies, Viral - administration & dosage; Antibodies, Viral - genetics; Antibodies, Viral - isolation & purification; Antigens; Applied microbiology; Base Sequence; Biological and medical sciences; Camelids, New World - immunology; Developing countries; Diarrhea; DNA, Viral - genetics; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Immunoglobulin Fragments - administration & dosage; Immunoglobulin Fragments - genetics; Immunoglobulin Fragments - isolation & purification; In Vitro Techniques; LDCs; MEDICIN; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; MEDICINE; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Microbiology; Miscellaneous; Monovalent antibody fragments; Morbidity; Morbidity reduction; Neutralization Tests; Pregnancy; Rotavirus; Rotavirus - genetics; Rotavirus - immunology; Rotavirus - pathogenicity; Rotavirus Infections - immunology; Rotavirus Infections - prevention & control; Rotavirus Infections - therapy; Rotavirus Vaccines - administration & dosage; Rotavirus Vaccines - genetics; Rotavirus Vaccines - isolation & purification; Saccharomyces cerevisiae - genetics; Vaccines, antisera, therapeutical immunoglobulins and monoclonal antibodies (general aspects); Virology; Viruses; Yeast; Yeasts
• ISSN: 0264-410X; 1873-2518; 1873-2518
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2006.02.045

Apart from the use of oral rehydration solution, there are currently no treatment modalities for rotavirus induced diarrhoea, which is particularly relevant to developing countries. Fragments derived from llama heavy chain antibodies were previously shown to be highly stable, efficiently produced in yeast and exhibiting high epitope specific affinity. We now aim to demonstrate that these antibody fragments are capable of reducing morbidity of rotavirus induced diarrhoea. Here we show the isolation of rotavirus specific antibody fragments and their capability of reducing the morbidity of rotavirus induced diarrhoea in vivo in mice. They could provide a treatment modality for the moderation of human rotavirus infections having a significant impact on the course of an often fatal childhood disease.