中山大学曾木圣小组的一项最新研究发现一种针对γ疱疹病毒gB的广泛保护性抗体。这一研究成果发表在2026年2月2日出版的国际学术期刊《自然》上。

研究组首次报道了抗体Fab5广泛结合和跨基因病毒中和gB的分子基础。该抗体对具有免疫能力的小鼠、非人灵长类动物以及携带小鼠、猕猴和人γ疱疹病毒的人源化小鼠具有有效的保护作用。Cryo-EM结构显示，Fab5靶向γ疱疹病毒gB的一个保守和脆弱的表位，并在抗原前或后状态下暴露。这一发现不仅证明了Fab5作为跨基因抗体对γ疱疹病毒感染和发病进展具有广泛的反应性，而且为疱疹病毒感染的潜在共同机制提供了见解，并促进了针对γ疱疹病毒的广谱疫苗的开发。

据悉，γ疱疹病毒是疱疹病毒的一个亚家族，在系统发育上与α和β疱疹病毒不同，其致癌亚型包括EB病毒和卡波西氏肉瘤相关疱疹病毒。它广泛感染人类和其他脊椎动物，引起各种疾病和恶性肿瘤。然而，没有针对每种类型或整个家族的特定抗病毒药物。gB是常见的对疱疹病毒感染至关重要的卵磷脂蛋白，是广泛疫苗开发的理想靶点，但gB作为通用抗原的基础缺乏阻碍了这一努力。

附：英文原文

Title: A broadly protective antibody targeting gammaherpesvirus gB

Author: Sun, Cong, Xie, Chu, Cheng, Bing-Zhen, Jiang, Zi-Ying, Wu, Pei-Huang, Fang, Xin-Yan, Li, Peng-Lin, Tian, Xian-Shu, Zhou, Hang, Yang, Yan-Lin, Wang, Jing, Sui, Sen-Fang, Liu, Zheng, Zeng, Mu-Sheng

Issue&Volume: 2026-02-02

Abstract: Gammaherpesvirus is a subfamily of herpesvirus, distinct phylogenetically from alpha- and betaherpesvirus and featured by its oncogenic subtypes, including Epstein-Barr virus and Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus1. It broadly infects humans and other vertebrate animals and causes various diseases and malignancies2,3. However, no specific antiviral agents are available for each type or the whole family. gB is the common fusion protein vital for herpesvirus infection and an ideal target for broad vaccine development, while the lack of basis for gB as a universal antigen hinders such effort4. Here, we report the molecular basis for broad gB binding and cross-genus virus neutralization by an antibody Fab5 for the first time. This antibody confers effective protection against authentic virus challenges in immune-competent mice, non-human primates, and humanized mice with murine, rhesus, and human gammaherpesvirus. Cryo-EM structures revealed that Fab5 targeted a conservative and vulnerable epitope of gammaherpesvirus gB and antigenically exposed across pre- or post-fusion status. This finding not only demonstrates Fab5 as cross-genus antibody broadly reactive against gammaherpesvirus infection and pathogenesis progression, but offers insights into potential common mechanisms for herpesvirus infection and facilitates the development of broad-spectrum vaccines against the gammaherpesvirus.

DOI: 10.1038/s41586-026-10192-5

Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-026-10192-5