Early insights into predicted efficacy of Ebola monoclonal antibodies for the 2026 Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak

@article{nabukeera2026early,
  title = {{Early insights into predicted efficacy of Ebola monoclonal antibodies for the 2026 Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak}},
  author = {Kevin Cissy Nabukeera and Gradi Luakanda-Ndelemo and Syrus Semawule and Alisen Ayitewala and Pascal Adroba-Tandele and Andrew Walakira and Adrienne Amuri-Aziza and Daan Jansen and Ronald Galiwango and Eddy Kinganda-Lusamaki and Andrew Tebba and Christian Ngandu and Aloysious Ssemaganda and Olivier Tshiani-Mbaya and Stephen Kanyerezi and Judith Kyokushaba and Prince Akil-Bandali and Carol Makoha and Hellen Rosette Oundo and Servet Kimbonza and Stephen Balinandi and Daniel Mukadi-Bamuleka and Valeria Nakintu and Justus Nsio and Ibrahimm Mugerwa and Daniel Kadobera and Daniel Euriene and Sabue Mulangu and Ahidjo Ayouba and Micheal Eliu and Sam Gidudu and Henry Kyobe Bosa and Misaki Wayengera and Anne W. Rimoin and Benard Lubwama and Atek Kagirita and Steve Ahuka-Mundeke and Dieudonné Mwamba and Andrew Kambugu and Pontiano Kaleebu and Christian Happi and Laurens Liesenborghs and Miles W. Carroll and Piet Maes and Jean B. Nachega and Martine Peeters and Pierre Akilimali and Ronnie Bahatungire and Allan Muruta and Jason Kindrachuk and Andrew Rambaut and Daniel Kyabayinze and Charles Olaro and Koen Vercauteren and Jean-Jacques Muyembe-Tamfum and Susan Nabadda and Diana Atwine and Daudi Jjingo and Tony Wawina-Bokalanga and Placide Mbala-Kingebeni},
  journal = {Nature Communications},
  year = {2026},
  month = sep,
  doi = {10.1038/s41467-026-78077-9},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-78077-9},
  note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}

TY  - JOUR
TI  - Early insights into predicted efficacy of Ebola monoclonal antibodies for the 2026 Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak
AU  - Kevin Cissy Nabukeera
AU  - Gradi Luakanda-Ndelemo
AU  - Syrus Semawule
AU  - Alisen Ayitewala
AU  - Pascal Adroba-Tandele
AU  - Andrew Walakira
AU  - Adrienne Amuri-Aziza
AU  - Daan Jansen
AU  - Ronald Galiwango
AU  - Eddy Kinganda-Lusamaki
AU  - Andrew Tebba
AU  - Christian Ngandu
AU  - Aloysious Ssemaganda
AU  - Olivier Tshiani-Mbaya
AU  - Stephen Kanyerezi
AU  - Judith Kyokushaba
AU  - Prince Akil-Bandali
AU  - Carol Makoha
AU  - Hellen Rosette Oundo
AU  - Servet Kimbonza
AU  - Stephen Balinandi
AU  - Daniel Mukadi-Bamuleka
AU  - Valeria Nakintu
AU  - Justus Nsio
AU  - Ibrahimm Mugerwa
AU  - Daniel Kadobera
AU  - Daniel Euriene
AU  - Sabue Mulangu
AU  - Ahidjo Ayouba
AU  - Micheal Eliu
AU  - Sam Gidudu
AU  - Henry Kyobe Bosa
AU  - Misaki Wayengera
AU  - Anne W. Rimoin
AU  - Benard Lubwama
AU  - Atek Kagirita
AU  - Steve Ahuka-Mundeke
AU  - Dieudonné Mwamba
AU  - Andrew Kambugu
AU  - Pontiano Kaleebu
AU  - Christian Happi
AU  - Laurens Liesenborghs
AU  - Miles W. Carroll
AU  - Piet Maes
AU  - Jean B. Nachega
AU  - Martine Peeters
AU  - Pierre Akilimali
AU  - Ronnie Bahatungire
AU  - Allan Muruta
AU  - Jason Kindrachuk
AU  - Andrew Rambaut
AU  - Daniel Kyabayinze
AU  - Charles Olaro
AU  - Koen Vercauteren
AU  - Jean-Jacques Muyembe-Tamfum
AU  - Susan Nabadda
AU  - Diana Atwine
AU  - Daudi Jjingo
AU  - Tony Wawina-Bokalanga
AU  - Placide Mbala-Kingebeni
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/09/26
JO  - Nature Communications
DO  - 10.1038/s41467-026-78077-9
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-78077-9
AB  - The 2026 Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD) outbreak in the DRC and Uganda raises urgent questions about the efficacy of existing Ebola virus (EBOV) monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against Bundibugyo virus (BDBV). Here, we perform genomic and structural analyses of 44 BDBV sequences, including 12 from the 2026 outbreak, to assess mAb binding to the viral glycoprotein (GP). While the MBP134 cocktail epitopes remain conserved, mAb114 (Ebanga) binding is compromised by E112D and P116A mutations, causing off-target binding and reduced affinity. Structural modeling of Inmazeb shows that while Odesivimab maintains epitope binding, Atoltivimab and Maftivimab fail to bind their designated sites individually, though the complete trimeric cocktail demonstrates BDBV synergistic binding. These computational models predict mAb114 efficacy against BDBV may be compromised due to epitope mutations affecting binding affinity, whereas MBP134 retains conserved targeting and holds promise as a broadly protective therapeutic. The complex binding behavior of Inmazeb components points to the importance of antibody combinatorial effects for treatment efficacy. These observations warrant urgent experimental validation through neutralization assays.
SN  - 2041-1723
ER  -