March 24, 2026 | Austin, Minn. — Polio may be nearly eradicated, but it’s far from a thing of the past. While vaccination efforts have eradicated the natural transmission of poliovirus in the United States and most other parts of the world, for those who do contract polio, there aren’t yet any cures for this potentially deadly disease. New discoveries at The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, take us closer to finding more protective measures, where researchers in the lab of CryoEM Director and Professor Susan Hafenstein, PhD, have identified a group of human monoclonal antibodies that can neutralize each of the three poliovirus types.
Using cryoEM technology, a powerful form of microscopy, the researchers constructed and analyzed high-resolution structures of sites where four distinct human antibodies — immune proteins that circulate in the blood and fight off threats like viruses — bound to poliovirus to learn how they interact. The study appears in the scientific journal Nature Communications, and authors of the paper include Graduate Assistant Benjamin Waddey, CryoEM Specialist Carol Bator, and Dr. Hafenstein.
“We can use these antibodies to serve as templates for the rational design of therapeutics against poliovirus: another tool in the arsenal for eventual poliovirus eradication,” Waddey said.
Polio is an extremely contagious disease that usually spreads through contact with fecal matter or respiratory droplets. Those who experience the worst of the disease can develop meningitis or paralysis, which can ultimately lead to death as the muscles that help with breathing can no longer function.
Before widespread vaccination, polio was a common disease that often peaked in summer. While polio cases have fallen by more than 99% globally, the type 1 wild-type poliovirus is still not fully eradicated — making the development of effective therapeutics to protect against polio essential for safeguarding human health.
A single virus can be categorized into distinct groups called serotypes. There are three serotypes of poliovirus: type 1, type 2, and type 3. While the polio vaccine administered in the United States protects against all three poliovirus serotypes, there aren’t yet existing treatments to protect individuals who do contract polio. Identifying human antibodies that win fights against this virus is one way scientists get closer to developing effective antiviral treatments and keep our defenses up.
From the study, researchers were able to identify:
- Human antibodies that can combat poliovirus infection
- Vulnerable areas of poliovirus that can be targeted with antiviral treatments
- An antibody that can neutralize multiple poliovirus types
“Our structural analyses indicate that competition between the antibody and the virus receptor is likely what leads to neutralization of virus particles, preventing poliovirus from entering host cells,” Waddey said.
“Widespread vaccination is one of our most important protections against polio,” Dr. Susan Hafenstein said. “It’s encouraging that the antibodies we’ve studied have shown neutralizing effects on this virus across all three serotypes. Developing antiviral treatments is a crucial next step in protecting people against a disease that can have such devastating effects.”
Read the paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-68226-x
MEDIA CONTACT
Matthew Manguso
Marketing & Communications Manager
[email protected]
ABOUT THE HORMEL INSTITUTE
Founded in 1942 by Jay C. Hormel and The Hormel Foundation, The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, makes scientific advancements that enhance wellbeing and extend human life. For more than 80 years, we have pursued our mission to conduct research and provide education in the biological sciences with applications in medicine and agriculture. A part of the University of Minnesota's Research and Innovation Office, The Hormel Institute partners with the region's leading biomedical research facilities, including Mayo Clinic.