Epstein-Barr virus gp350 neutralizing epitopes define distinct sites of vulnerability.

Potent neutralizing antibodies target three distinct vulnerable sites on EBV gp350, with one in the D3 domain conferring post-attachment neutralization.

• Why it matters: Understanding the specific neutralizing epitopes on gp350 is crucial for improving vaccine design and therapeutic strategies against EBV, which is linked to multiple cancers but lacks effective vaccines.
• What they did: Researchers isolated human monoclonal antibodies from EBV-seropositive donors, mapped their epitopes, and identified three antigenic clusters on gp350, including a key neutralizing site in the D3 domain.
• The result: The antibody 1A12 provided strong protection in a humanized mouse model by reducing viral load and disease, guiding the development of more effective EBV vaccines and antibody therapies.