A distinct E dimer epitope underlies selective recognition by a protective human West Nile virus antibody.

Authors

Baldeep Khare, Charles-Adrien Arnaud, Thomas Klose, James E Crowe, Richard J Kuhn

Published in

EMBO reports. Jun 29, 2026. Epub Jun 29, 2026.

Abstract

Human outbreaks of West Nile virus (WNV) are an imminent threat in North America, with many annual infections and numerous cases of severe neuroinvasive disease. There are no licensed treatments for WNV disease. Previous research identified WNV-86 as an ultrapotent neutralizing human antibody that binds domain II of the major envelope (E) glycoprotein in mature virions. Here, we report the structure of mature WNV in complex with the Fab of WNV-86, at a resolution of 3.8 Å, solved using cryogenic electron microscopy. Structure-based epitope mapping identifies a new class of E dimer epitope (EDE) antibodies that we designate as EDE3 antibodies. A partial overlap of WNV-86 and pre-membrane protein (prM) binding regions at more than one site ensures selective binding of WNV-86 to mature virions. The structure reveals the quaternary epitope of the neutralizing Fab and supports a model in which engaging both protomers of the dimer likely interferes with fusion-triggering rearrangements. This study identifies critical residues for binding, neutralization, and immune escape and clarifies the promise of this molecule for future immunotherapeutic interventions.

PMID:
42373829
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 30 Jun 2026.

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