These findings could lead to the development of cross-reactive and neutralizing antibody therapies for individuals who are severely ill from the flu.

Researchers will scan the landscape of plasmablasts, the first antibody-producing, B-type immune cells that respond to MMR infection.

For decades no effective preventive options existed, and the tools now exist to prevent severe disease.

The approach will address “bottlenecks” that slow the traditional antibody discovery process, and it aims to make it possible to generate monoclonal antibody therapies against any target of interest.

The study findings point to the potential of interleukin-13 antibodies — approved for use in humans — as a treatment to protect against bacterial pneumonia in patients with zinc deficiency.

Crowe and his colleagues have developed cutting-edge technologies to isolate and study antiviral antibodies.

A close cousin of Ebola, the Marburg virus is transmitted by fruit bats and by exposure to body fluids from infected individuals. There currently are no approved treatments or vaccines for MVD, which has a roughly 50% fatality rate.