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Targeting the latent human cytomegalovirus reservoir for T-cell-mediated killing with virus-specific nanobodies

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Change log

Authors

De Groof, Timo W. M.  ORCID logo  https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6918-2955
Elder, Elizabeth G.  ORCID logo  https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1615-2642
Lim, Eleanor Y. 
Bergkamp, Nick D. 

Abstract

Abstract: Latent human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection is characterized by limited gene expression, making latent HCMV infections refractory to current treatments targeting viral replication. However, reactivation of latent HCMV in immunosuppressed solid organ and stem cell transplant patients often results in morbidity. Here, we report the killing of latently infected cells via a virus-specific nanobody (VUN100bv) that partially inhibits signaling of the viral receptor US28. VUN100bv reactivates immediate early gene expression in latently infected cells without inducing virus production. This allows recognition and killing of latently infected monocytes by autologous cytotoxic T lymphocytes from HCMV-seropositive individuals, which could serve as a therapy to reduce the HCMV latent reservoir of transplant patients.

Description

Keywords

Article, /631/326/596, /692/420/254, /639/925/352/152, /82/1, /96, /96/95, /13/106, /38/77, /38/35, article

Journal Title

Nature Communications

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

2041-1723

Volume Title

12

Publisher

Nature Publishing Group UK
Sponsorship
Wellcome Trust (Wellcome) (grant MR/K021087/1)
Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research) (Vici grant 016.140.657)