Tiny Nanobody Discovery Offers Hope Against Deadly Nipah and Hendra Viruses

Researchers at The University of Queensland (UQ) have uncovered a promising new strategy to fight two highly lethal viruses — Nipah and Hendra — for which there are currently no approved vaccines or cures.

A research team has identified the first-ever nanobody capable of neutralizing both viruses, offering a potential breakthrough in global health preparedness.

Nanobodies are specialized, miniature antibodies approximately one-tenth the size of traditional antibodies. Their small size allows them to access hidden areas of viruses that larger antibodies cannot reach, effectively blocking infection. In addition to their unique size advantage, nanobodies are easier to produce and more stable at higher temperatures than conventional antibodies, making them ideal candidates for developing future antiviral treatments.

The newly identified nanobody, known as DS90, was isolated from the immune cells of an alpaca named Pedro, in collaboration with research partners at Universidad Austral de Chile. Camelids, including alpacas, are the only land animals that produce these versatile nanobodies.

Using advanced platforms to isolate virus-specific nanobodies, DS90 was found to bind effectively to proteins in both Nipah and Hendra viruses, preventing them from entering human cells. High-resolution cryogenic electron microscopy at UQ revealed that DS90 could reach deep into the viruses' structural pockets, an area typically inaccessible to conventional antibodies.

This discovery provides critical insight into blocking viral entry and represents a major step forward in developing effective treatments.

The research team also explored combining DS90 with an experimental antibody therapy currently used as a last-resort treatment for these infections. The combination was shown to prevent the Nipah virus from mutating and evolving, potentially stopping the emergence of new, more dangerous variants.

Nanobodies have previously been approved for certain cancer treatments, and this study demonstrates their potential to combat infectious diseases. Researchers now aim to translate these findings into a clinically ready therapeutic that can be rapidly deployed in future outbreaks.

Hendra virus, first identified in Brisbane in 1994, has caused sporadic human infections through horses and flying foxes in eastern Australia. Nipah virus, carried by bats, causes almost annual outbreaks in Bangladesh and periodic outbreaks in other parts of Asia. Both viruses can result in severe respiratory and neurological disease, often with fatal outcomes.

This groundbreaking work was supported by international collaborations with Universidad Austral de Chile, CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness, and the University of Science and Technology of China.

The findings have been published in Nature Structural & Molecular Biology.