Plant-Produced Anti-Zika Virus Monoclonal Antibody Glycovariant Exhibits Abrogated Antibody-Dependent Enhancement of Infection

Monoclonal antibodies (mAb) against the envelope (E) protein of Zika virus (ZIKV) have shown great potential as therapeutics against the Zika epidemics. However, their use as a therapy may predispose treated individuals to severe infection by the related dengue virus (DENV) via antibody-dependent enhancement of infection (ADE). Here, we generated a broadly neutralizing flavivirus mAb, ZV1, with an identical protein backbone but different Fc glycosylation profiles. The three glycovariants, produced in wild-type (WT) and glycoengineered Delta XF Nicotiana benthamiana plants and in Chinese hamster ovary cells (ZV1(WT), ZV1(Delta XF), and ZV1(CHO)), respectively, showed equivalent neutralization potency against both ZIKV and DENV. By contrast, the three mAb glycoforms demonstrated drastically different ADE activity for DENV and ZIKV infection. While ZV1(CHO) and ZV1(Delta XF) showed ADE activity upon DENV and ZIKV infection, ZV1(WT) totally forwent its ADE. Importantly, all three glycovariants exhibited antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) against virus-infected cells, with increased potency by the fucose-free ZV1(Delta XF) glycoform. Moreover, the in vivo efficacy of the ADE-free ZV1(WT) was demonstrated in a murine model. Collectively, we demonstrated the feasibility of modulating ADE by Fc glycosylation, thereby establishing a novel approach for improving the safety of flavivirus therapeutics. Our study also underscores the versatile use of plants for the rapid expression of complex human proteins to reveal novel insight into antibody function and viral pathogenesis.

Automated summary

Monoclonal antibodies have great potential as therapeutics against Zika virus, but may enhance infection by dengue virus. This study demonstrates the possibility of reducing the risk of dengue virus infection by modifying antibody glycosylation.