Isolation of cross-reactive human monoclonal antibodies that prevent binding of human noroviruses to histo-blood group antigens

In order to identify the repertoire of antibodies generated on natural infection of norovirus (NoV) in humans, and to characterize the human monoclonal antibodies against NoV, three phage‐displayed antibody libraries originating from healthy person(s) were screened using purified virus‐like particles (VLPs) of strain Narita 104 (r104, genogroup II, genotype 4) or strain Chiba 407 (rCV, genogroup I, genotype 4) as antigens. On screening with r104, 62 clones were isolated. Among these antibodies, two clones, 12A11 and 12B10, showed intra‐genogroup cross‐reactivity to genotypes 1, 3–7, 12, and 14, and genotypes 1, 4, 6, and 7 of genogroup II, respectively. In addition, antibodies belonging to the same group were isolated from two different libraries. On screening with rCV, five clones were isolated, two of which were cross‐reactive. One, CV‐2F5, reacted to genotypes 1–4, and 8 of genogroup I, and the other, CV‐1A5, showed inter‐genogroup cross‐reactivity to all the VLPs employed in this study. The blocking activities of the monoclonal antibodies against the interaction of homotypic VLPs (VLPs used in the panning procedure) with histo‐blood group antigens were also assessed as an alternative to neutralization assay. Although the blocking activity of 12A11 was partially limited 12B10 prevented the binding of r104 to histo‐blood group antigens that had been reported to bind r104. The blocking activity of CV‐2F5 against the attachment of rCV to suitable histo‐blood group antigens was weak, but the blocking activity of CV‐1A5 was well recognized. Thus, 12B10 and CV‐1A5 were suggested to be cross‐reactive monoclonal antibodies with neutralizing activity. J. Med. Virol. 86:558–567, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.