Nipah Virus (NiV) & Monoclonal Antibodies
Context:
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has invited an Expression of Interest (EoI) for the development and production of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against the Nipah viral disease
This initiative aims to build India's indigenous medical countermeasures against NiV
mAbs are the only currently feasible biomedical countermeasure
About Nipah Virus (NiV):
NiV has emerged as a major zoonotic threat in India, with repeated outbreaks recorded since 2001
It has a very high case fatality rate (ranging from 40% to 75%)
Given the very high case fatality and absence of licensed vaccines, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) represent the only currently feasible biomedical countermeasure.
Monoclonal antibodies can serve as a post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for high-risk contacts (like healthcare workers) and may offer therapeutic benefits to patients in the early stages of infection
What are Monoclonal Antibodies (mAbs)?
Human body naturally produces antibodies, which are elements of the immune system produced by B-lymphocytes, that bind to foreign proteins in the body known as antigens, which the aim of eliminating them.
On the other hand, Monoclonal antibodies are artificial antibodies prepared in the laboratory to target specific antigens.
They are designed to target specific antigens (foreign proteins) on cells
They are produced from a single clone of cells.
This means that they are identical and bind to the same epitope (binding site) on an antigen.
Functions and Applications of mABs:
Monoclonal antibodies are used in the treatment of several diseases and disorders like Cancers, Rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular diseases etc.
Some monoclonal antibodies are designed to target specific tumor antigens.
Monoclonal antibodies are used in the diagnosis of several diseases by detecting specific antigens circulating in the body tissues and detecting them by the use of immunoassay techniques.