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SUMMARY:New Prevention and Treatment Options Against Influenza
DTSTART:20160418T121500
DTSTAMP:20260506T221342Z
UID:592b65f1bfb559140b58b26ac928ccb98ea61ddf840105d60e7f38e7
CATEGORIES:Conferences - Seminars
DESCRIPTION:Prof. Xavier Saelens\, VIB and Ghent University\, Ghent (B)\nB
 IOENGINEERING SEMINAR(sandwiches served)Abstract:\nFor centuries\, influen
 za viruses have caused acute respiratory disease in human\, sometimes with
  fatal consequences. Vaccines and antivirals are in place to prevent and t
 reat disease caused by human influenza A and B viruses. However\, these in
 terventions work suboptimally\, mainly as a consequence of the rapid antig
 enic and genetic evolution of these viruses. We have developed an influenz
 a A vaccine candidate that is based on the conserved extracellular domain 
 of matrix protein (M2e). This domain is naturally poorly immunogenic. Howe
 ver\, when fused to a carrier\, the M2e antigen can prevent disease follow
 ing influenza A virus challenge in animal models. We have determined the c
 rystal structure of M2e in complex with the Fab fragment of monoclonal ant
 ibodies. This structure revealed that M2e can adopt two different conforma
 tions depending on the epitope-specficity of the binding antibodies. This 
 is of interest because M2e-specific IgGs are required for the protection a
 gainst influenza A virus challenge. We demonstrated that this protection d
 epends on activating F Receptors and alveolar macrophages suggesting th
 at an antibody-dependent phagocytic process operates in vivo to eliminate 
 infected cells. Based on this\, we have engineered single chain antibody f
 ragments that can selectively recruit and locally activate T cell to influ
 enza A virus-infected cells. These so-called flu-bi-specific T cell engagi
 ng antibody constructs\, protect mice against a potentially lethal influen
 za A virus challenge and represent a novel treatment option against influe
 nza A.Bio:\nPhD: Univ. of Ghent\, Ghent\, Belgium\, 1990\nPostdoc: Univ. o
 f Ghent\, Ghent\, Belgium\, 1990-2004\nVIB Project Leader since 2005\nVIB 
 Expert Scientist since 2009\nVIB Group leader as of January 2015
LOCATION:SV1717.1 http://map.epfl.ch/?room=sv1717.1
STATUS:CONFIRMED
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