Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40007004›Full record

ArticleViruses2025

Targeting Herpes Simplex Virus Glycoprotein D with Bispecific Antibodies: Expanding Therapeutic Horizons by Searching for Synergy.

Doina Atanasiu, Wan Ting Saw, Harvey M Friedman, Gary H Cohen

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Viruses, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trial
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Doina AtanasiuDepartment of Basic and Translational Sciences, School of Dental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Wan Ting SawDepartment of Basic and Translational Sciences, School of Dental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Harvey M FriedmanInfectious Disease Division, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, Penn Institute for RNA Innovation, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-0765-9460
Gary H CohenDepartment of Basic and Translational Sciences, School of Dental Medicine, Penn Institute for RNA Innovation, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.

Funding

Nucleoside-modified mRNA vaccine for prevention and treatment of genital herpesR01AI139618 · NIAID · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · PI Harvey Michael Friedman · 2019 to 2026
$6.4M
Studies of Herpes Simplex Virus GlycoproteinsR37AI018289 · NIAID · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · PI COHEN, GARY H · 2005 to 2014
$3.9M
STUDIES OF HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS GLYCOPROTEINSR01AI018289 · NIAID · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · PI COHEN, GARY H · 1985 to 2019
$3.8M
NIAID NIH HHS R01 AI018289NIAID NIH HHS R01 AI139618NIAID NIH HHS R37 AI018289
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Herpes simplex viruses (HSV-1 and HSV-2), which can be transmitted both orally and sexually, cause lifelong morbidity and in some cases, meningitis and encephalitis. While both the passive transfer of neutralizing antibodies and placental transfer of anti-HSV monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) have shown therapeutic promise in animal models, clinical trials have yet to identify approved immunotherapeutics for herpes infection. Here, we present strategies for the generation of recombinant bispecific antibodies (BsAbs) that target different domains of glycoprotein D (gD), crucial for HSV entry, that have the potential to outperform the effect of individual Mabs to curb herpes infection. Specifically, we selected three pairs of Mabs from our extensive panel for BsAb design and production based on their binding site and ability to block virus entry. Actual binding of BsAbs to gD and epitope availability on gD after BsAb binding were characterized using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and inhibition by IgG Fab fragments generated from selected Mabs. While one BsAb exhibited an additive effect similar to that observed using a combination of the Mabs utilized for its generation, two showed antagonistic effects, suggesting that the simultaneous engagement of two epitopes or selective binding to one affected their activity against HSV. One BsAb (DL11/1D3) targeting the binding site for both nectin-1 and HVEM receptors demonstrated synergistic inhibitory activity against HSV, outperforming the effect of the individual antibodies. Recombinant DL11/1D3 antibody variants, in which the size of one or both paratopes was decreased to single chains (scFv-Fc), highlighted differences in potency depending on antibody size and format. We propose that BsAbs to individual glycoproteins offer a potential avenue for herpes therapeutics, but their design, mechanism of action, antibody format, and epitope engagement require careful consideration of structure for optimal efficacy.

Indexed as

Antibodies, BispecificAntibodies, ViralHerpes SimplexHerpesvirus 1, HumanHerpesvirus 2, HumanViral Envelope ProteinsAnimalsAntibodies, MonoclonalAntibodies, NeutralizingCell Adhesion MoleculesEpitopesHumansNectinsVirus InternalizationAntibodies, BispecificAntibodies, MonoclonalAntibodies, NeutralizingAntibodies, ViralCell Adhesion MoleculesEpitopesglycoprotein D, Human herpesvirus 1NectinsViral Envelope Proteinsbispecific antibodiesglycoproteinsHSVneutralizing antibodiesrecombinant antibodies

Identifiers

PMID40007004
PMCPMC11860751

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.