Antibody that blocks New World arenaviruses from entering human cells
Official title: Antibody-based therapeutic strategy for New World mammarenavirus hemorrhagic fever
Funded at University of California Los Angeles · NIH-11224086 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project is developing an antibody that stops New World arenaviruses from entering human cells to protect people at risk of viral hemorrhagic fever.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | November 15, 2022 |
| Project end | October 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $753,610 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI173769-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11224086 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be people exposed to or recently infected with New World mammarenaviruses (for example during outbreaks or laboratory exposures) and those at high risk of such infections.
✕Less likely to help
People with illnesses not caused by New World mammarenaviruses or with conditions unrelated to viral entry at the transferrin receptor are unlikely to benefit from this specific approach.
What this research studies
This research is creating a lab-made antibody that binds a specific part of the human transferrin receptor to block several New World arenaviruses from attaching and entering cells. The team has a chimeric antibody (ch128.1/IgG1) that competes with the virus and has protected human-receptor mice from lethal infection. The approach aims to block viral entry without disrupting the receptor's normal role in iron uptake. Researchers plan to refine the antibody and advance it toward treatments that could be used in exposed or infected people.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could become a broadly effective antibody treatment to prevent or treat life-threatening New World mammarenavirus hemorrhagic fevers.
How similar studies have gone: Antibody therapies have protected animals from arenavirus infections before, and targeting the transferrin receptor apical domain is a newer strategy that has shown protection in transgenic mouse models.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Penichet, Manuel L — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Penichet, Manuel L
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.