An Antibody Recognizing the Apical Domain of Human Transferrin Receptor 1 Efficiently Inhibits the Entry of All New World Hemorrhagic Fever Arenaviruses

Abstract

Five New World (NW) arenaviruses cause human hemorrhagic fevers. Four of these arenaviruses are known to enter cells bybinding human transferrin receptor 1 (hTfR1). Here we show that the fifth arenavirus, Chapare virus, similarly uses hTfR1. Wealso identify an anti-hTfR1 antibody, ch128.1, which efficiently inhibits entry mediated by the glycoproteins of all five viruses, aswell as replication of infectious Junín virus. Our data indicate that allNWhemorrhagic fever arenaviruses utilize a commonhTfR1 apical-domain epitope and suggest that therapeutic agents targeting this epitope, including ch128.1 itself, can be broadlyeffective in treating South American hemorrhagic fevers.