NanoViricides Inc. (NNVC)

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High-Dose Mannose-Binding Lectin Therapy for Ebola Virus Infection

Ian C. Michelow,1 Calli Lear,2 Corinne Scully,2 Laura I. Prugar,2 Clifford B. Longley,3 L. Michael Yantosca,1 Xin Ji,4 Marshall Karpel,1 Matthew Brudner,1 Kazue Takahashi,1 Gregory T. Spear,4 R. Alan B. Ezekowitz,1 Emmett V. Schmidt,corresponding author5 and Gene G. Olinger2

1Programs of Developmental Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
2US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases; Virology Division, Fort Detrick, Frederick, Maryland
3Enzon Pharmaceuticals, Bridgewater, New Jersey
4Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
5Cancer Research Center at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts

Reprints or correspondence: Emmett V. Schmidt, Cancer Research Center at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114 (Email: gro.srentrap@tdimhcse).

Abstract
Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) targets diverse microorganisms for phagocytosis and complement-mediated lysis by binding specific surface glycans. Although recombinant human MBL (rhMBL) trials have focused on reconstitution therapy, safety studies have identified no barriers to its use at higher levels. Ebola viruses cause fatal hemorrhagic fevers for which no treatment exists and that are feared as potential biothreat agents. We found that mice whose rhMBL serum concentrations were increased >/=7-fold above average human levels survived otherwise fatal Ebola virus infections and became immune to virus rechallenge. Because Ebola glycoproteins potentially model other glycosylated viruses, rhMBL may offer a novel broad-spectrum antiviral approach.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3071052/