95% of people carry this virus and scientists may have just found how to stop it

Scientists have taken a critical step toward stopping the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a common pathogen that 95% of the global population carries. By engineering mice to produce human antibodies, a team led by Dr. Andrew McGuire at Fred Hutch identified specific monoclonal antibodies that prevent the virus from attaching to and entering immune cells. This breakthrough, published in Cell Reports Medicine, showed a complete prevention of infection in the mouse models.

The study focused on the gp350 and gp42 proteins, which the virus uses to bind to and fuse with human B cells. This new strategy avoids triggering adverse immune reactions that often plague non-human antibody therapies. As EBV is linked to several cancers and autoimmune conditions, the validation of this 'humanized' approach offers a ray of hope for the development of future vaccines and treatments for one of the world's most pervasive viruses.