An international research coordinated by the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB) of Bellinzona identifies new human monoclonal antibodies capable of counteracting the West Nile virus, a mosquito-borne disease that has become increasingly important in Europe and other parts of the world in recent years. The results, published in the scientific journal Immunity, could represent a significant step towards the development of new prevention and treatment strategies for this infection and for other viruses belonging to the same family.
The study was conducted by researchers at the IRB, an institute affiliated with theUniversity of Italian Switzerland (USI), together with experts from Stanford University, Masaryk University, the University of Zurich, the Pasteur Institute in Novi Sad and doctors active in Serbia.
A growing health threat
West Nile virus (WNV) is transmitted primarily through the bite of infected mosquitoes. In most cases, the infection is asymptomatic or causes mild symptoms, but In some people it can evolve into severe neurological forms, with encephalitis, meningitis and, in the most severe cases, potentially fatal consequences..
Despite the increasing spread of the virusTo date, there are no licensed vaccines for humans or specific antiviral therapies. Hence, the scientific community's interest in identifying innovative therapeutic tools capable of limiting the disease.
The study starts with recovered patients
To better understand how the immune response works, the researchers analyzed blood samples from people who had recovered from the infection in Serbia.
The goal was to identify human monoclonal antibodies naturally produced by the body and evaluate their ability to neutralize the virus. In parallel, the study showed that the presence of neutralizing autoantibodies against type I interferons does not compromise the development of the antiviral antibody response, a finding that contributes to a better understanding of the immune mechanisms involved.
The contribution of the IRB of Bellinzona
The laboratory led by Davide Robbiani at the IRB he played a central role in identifying the most promising antibodies.
Among those selected, the following stands out: W010, a monoclonal antibody that recognizes a specific site on domain III of the virus's envelope protein. This structure is essential for the pathogen to attach to cells and initiate infection.
In experimental mouse models, W010 has shown significant efficacy both when administered prophylactically, before exposure to the virus, and as a treatment up to five days after infection, maintaining its protective activity even in conditions of reduced functionality of the interferon response.
An antibody with an even broader action
The researchers also characterized a second monoclonal antibody, called W014, which has demonstrated the ability to neutralize not only West Nile virus but also several orthoflaviviruses responsible for neurological diseases.
These include Japanese encephalitis virus, Murray Valley encephalitis virus, St. Louis encephalitis virus, and Usutu virus, which are also vector-borne and have been associated, in some cases, with serious central nervous system infections.
This broad-spectrum capability makes W014 a candidate of particular interest in the development of future therapies directed against a broader group of encephalitic viruses.
New perspectives for vaccines and therapies
According to the authors, the results allow us to identify some of the most vulnerable points of the West Nile virus, offering useful indications for the design of next-generation vaccines.
The identified antibodies represent candidates for both preventative use and potential therapeutic treatments, in a context in which available options are still very limited.
The research also contributes to expanding knowledge of the neutralization mechanisms of orthoflaviviruses, paving the way for the development of shared strategies against infections that continue to pose a challenge to international public health.
The complete scientific publication is available in the journal Immunity at the following link:
https://www.cell.com/immunity/fulltext/S1074-7613(26)00224-4
