Engineered mRNA-expressed antibodies prevent respiratory syncytial virus infection.

Abstract

The lung is a critical prophylaxis target for clinically important infectious agents, including human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza. Here, we develop a modular, synthetic mRNA-based approach to express neutralizing antibodies directly in the lung via aerosol, to prevent RSV infections. First, we express palivizumab, which reduces RSV F copies by 90.8%. Second, we express engineered, membrane-anchored palivizumab, which prevents detectable infection in transfected cells, reducing in vitro titer and in vivo RSV F copies by 99.7% and 89.6%, respectively. Finally, we express an anchored or secreted high-affinity, anti-RSV F, camelid antibody (RSV aVHH and sVHH). We demonstrate that RSV aVHH, but not RSV sVHH, significantly inhibits RSV 7 days post transfection, and we show that RSV aVHH is present in the lung for at least 28 days. Overall, our data suggests that expressing membrane-anchored broadly neutralizing antibodies in the lungs could potentially be a promising pulmonary prophylaxis approach.