{
  "abstract": "Humoral immune mechanisms that can contribute to limiting HCMV disease include neutralizing antibodies that block viral entry and Fc-mediated effector functions that promote elimination of infected cells. Here, we identify the gH/UL116 envelope complex as a naturally immunogenic target that elicits antibodies capable of mediating both of these immune mechanisms. Using single-cell sorting of antigen-specific memory B cells, we isolated gH/UL116-reactive monoclonal antibodies from HCMV-seropositive donors. Epitope mapping showed that gH binding was required for virus neutralization, whereas UL116 targeting was associated with potent and broad Fc{gamma} receptor (Fc{gamma}R) activation. Furthermore, cryo-electron microscopy provided high-resolution structures revealing how UL116-specific antibodies bind gH/UL116. In mice, gH/UL116 immunization elicited serum IgG responses whose binding titers strongly correlated with both neutralization and mouse Fc{gamma}R activation. Together, these findings provide an epitope-level map linking antibody specificity to neutralization and Fc{gamma}R activation across HCMV gH-associated complexes and position gH/UL116 as a promising HCMV vaccine candidate.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "University Hospital Cologne"
  ],
  "article_type": "New results",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 24,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "A. Ashurov"
    },
    {
      "name": "K. Hoffmann"
    },
    {
      "name": "A. R. Ramamohan"
    },
    {
      "name": "K. P. Karthigeyan"
    },
    {
      "name": "A. Ashurov"
    },
    {
      "name": "M. Rotzler"
    },
    {
      "name": "A.-K. Kohl"
    },
    {
      "name": "G. M. Torres"
    },
    {
      "name": "C. Binuya"
    },
    {
      "name": "C. Williams"
    },
    {
      "name": "C. M. Crooks"
    },
    {
      "name": "L. Schlachter"
    },
    {
      "name": "D. Shestopal"
    },
    {
      "name": "L. Ullrich"
    },
    {
      "name": "C. Hornung"
    },
    {
      "name": "R. Lotfi"
    },
    {
      "name": "P. Kolb"
    },
    {
      "name": "C. Kreer"
    },
    {
      "name": "M. Koch"
    },
    {
      "name": "S. R. Permar"
    },
    {
      "name": "H. Hengel"
    },
    {
      "name": "J. S. McLellan"
    },
    {
      "name": "F. Klein"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "M. Zehner"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4a8wm25mv99zf.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.64898/2026.10.11.758335",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.11.758335v1.full",
  "id": "4a8wm25mv99zf",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.11.758335v1",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "biorxiv",
      "immunology"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2713|Cytomegalovirus and herpesvirus research"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7222893981",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.11.758335v1.full.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-11",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4a8wm25mv99zf.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:28:21Z",
      "native_id": "10.64898/2026.10.11.758335",
      "source": "biorxiv",
      "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.11.758335v2"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "biorxiv:immunology",
      "subfield": "immunology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "B cell response to HCMV gH/UL116 elicits neutralizing and FcγR-activating antibodies",
  "title_text": "B cell response to HCMV gH/UL116 elicits neutralizing and FcγR-activating antibodies",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:28:29Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/4a8wm25mv99zf",
  "venue": "bioRxiv",
  "versions": []
}