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

Published version
Peer-reviewed

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Type

Article

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Authors

Lim, Eleanor Y 
Bergkamp, Nick D 

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

Funder: Department of Health

Keywords

T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic, Monocytes, Cells, Cultured, Humans, Cytomegalovirus, Cytomegalovirus Infections, Receptors, Chemokine, Viral Proteins, Virus Latency, Virus Activation, Signal Transduction, Gene Expression, Genes, Immediate-Early, Single-Domain Antibodies, Lipopolysaccharide Receptors

Journal Title

Nature communications

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

2041-1723

Volume Title

12

Publisher

Sponsorship
Medical Research Council (MR/K021087/1)
Wellcome Trust (109075/Z/15/A)