SC Connecticut News

Yale researchers have identified immune cells in mice that play a crucial role in preventing the reactivation of endogenous retroviruses, remnants of ancient viral infections embedded in genomes. These findings could pave the way for broad-spectrum virus treatments.

The study, published on November 8 in Science Immunology, explores how B-1 immune cells can recognize various harmful viruses. "We wanted to identify the B cells that bind to the surface of these endogenous retroviruses," said Akiko Iwasaki, Sterling Professor of Immunobiology at Yale School of Medicine and senior author of the study. The research involved creating viral-like particles without genetic material and using them to bait specific B cells.

B-1 cells, which are considered 'innate-like' due to their characteristics shared with both innate and adaptive immunity, were found to produce natural antibodies of the IgM type. These cells were observed binding to sugar chains on envelope proteins that differ from those on healthy mammalian cells. "These viral envelopes, for some reason, express this form of immature terminal sugar molecule that looks very different from our healthy cells," explained Iwasaki.

The team also tested whether B-1 cells would recognize other viruses like SARS-CoV-2, influenza A virus, and HIV. "Pretty much all of the envelope viruses we tested were detected by the natural antibodies made by B-1 cells through terminal sugar molecules," noted Iwasaki.

This discovery suggests potential applications for combating viruses using antibodies developed to mimic those produced by B-1 cells. Such advancements could be especially beneficial during outbreaks of new viruses lacking existing treatments or immune defenses.

Iwasaki's lab is extending this research to human versions of these innate-like B cells. "It turns out humans have similar innate-like B cells that bind to surface sugars of viruses," she added.