CLEARANCE OF BLOOD-BORNE PATHOGENS MEDIATED THROUGH BISPECIFIC MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODIES BOUND TO THE PRIMATE ERYTHROCYTE COMPLEMENT RECEPTOR

The primate erythrocyte complement receptor facilitates both the immun e adherence reaction and the immune complex clearance properties of pr imate erythrocytes. These phenomena have been studied for more than 40 years. However, it has only recently become apparent that these chara cteristics of primate erythrocytes may be useful in the generation of a therapy based on bispecific monoclonal antibodies. Our approach uses bispecific monoclonal antibody constructs (heteropolymers) that promo te binding of specific target pathogens to primate erythrocytes via th e complement receptor. Once bound to the erythrocytes, the pathogen-he teropolymer complex should be cleared from the circulation, phagocytos ed and destroyed in the liver. Results with several prototype target p athogens in monkey models indicate it may be possible to use this tech nology to develop a robust and general therapy for the treatment of di seases associated with blood-borne pathogens.