Abstract
Effective vaccines for a number of human pathogens are lacking. In general, vaccines mimic natural protective immune responses. Thus, the improved ability to harness the native power of the human immune system and isolate pathogen-specific antibodies is helping to fill an important gap in vaccine development. Here we highlight the technological advances that have fast-tracked the discovery of new anti-infective monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). We discuss their role in a reverse vaccinology approach toward facilitating the design of better immunogens. We also review the development of mAbs as biological drugs to both prevent and treat infectious diseases. This chapter will focus mainly on human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and influenza virus but will also discuss other pathogens where significant progress has been made, as in the case of respiratory syncytial virus. These technologies are applicable across different diseases, providing a platform for tackling new or reemerging pathogens, such as Ebola viruses. The emergence and expansion of monoclonal antibody technologies herald a new era in the fight against infectious diseases.
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