TY - JOUR T1 - Maternally transferred monoclonal antibodies protect neonatal mice from herpes simplex virus-induced mortality and morbidity JF - bioRxiv DO - 10.1101/2022.01.12.476098 SP - 2022.01.12.476098 AU - Iara M. Backes AU - Brook K. Byrd AU - Chaya D. Patel AU - Sean A. Taylor AU - Callaghan R. Garland AU - Scott W. MacDonald AU - Alejandro B. Balazs AU - Scott C. Davis AU - Margaret E. Ackerman AU - David A. Leib Y1 - 2022/01/01 UR - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2022/01/12/2022.01.12.476098.abstract N2 - Neonatal herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections often result in significant mortality and neurological morbidity despite antiviral drug therapy. Maternally-transferred HSV-specific antibodies reduce the risk of clinically-overt neonatal HSV (nHSV), but this observation has not been translationally applied. Using a neonatal mouse model, we tested the hypothesis that passive transfer of HSV-specific human monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) can prevent mortality and morbidity associated with nHSV. The mAbs were expressed in vivo by vectored immunoprophylaxis, or administered in vivo following recombinant expression in vitro. Through these maternally-derived routes or through direct administration to pups, diverse mAbs to HSV glycoprotein D protected against neonatal HSV-1 and HSV-2 infection. Using in vivo bioluminescent imaging, both pre- and post-exposure mAb treatment significantly reduced viral load. Administration of mAb also reduced nHSV-induced behavioral morbidity, as measured by anxiety-like behavior. Together these studies support the notion that HSV-specific mAb-based therapies may prevent or improve HSV infection outcomes in neonates.Graphical Abstract Different antibody sources were used to maternally-transfer or directly administer HSV-specific mAbs to mouse pups. Neonatal mice were challenged with wild type or bioluminescent virus before or after mAb acquisition. Following infection, pups were assessed for survival, virus-induced bioluminescence and anxiety-like behavior as a measure of neurological morbidity. Efficacy was time and mAb dependent. Notably, all HSV-specific mAbs prevented nHSV-associated mortality.Competing Interest StatementA patent has been filed by Dartmouth with I.M.B., C.D.P., D.A.L., and M.E.A. as inventors partially based on these results. ER -