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Obligatory requirement for antibody in recovery from a primary poxvirus infection

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-20, 21:01 authored by Chaudhri, G, Panchanathan, V, Bluethmann, H, Gunasegaran KarupiahGunasegaran Karupiah
To understand the correlates of protective immunity against primary variola virus infection in humans, we have used the well-characterized mousepox model. This is an excellent surrogate small-animal model for smallpox in which the disease is caused by infection with the closely related orthopoxvirus, ectromelia virus. Similarities between the two infections include virus replication and transmission, aspects of pathology, and development of pock lesions. Previous studies using ectromelia virus have established critical roles for cytokines and effector functions of CD8 T cells in the control of acute stages of poxvirus infection. Here, we have used mice deficient in B cells to demonstrate that B-cell function is also obligatory for complete virus clearance and recovery of the host. In the absence of B cells, virus persists and the host succumbs to infection, despite the generation of CD8 T-cell responses. Intriguingly, transfer of naive B cells or ectromelia virus-immune serum to B-cell-deficient mice with established infection allowed these animals to clear virus and fully recover. In contrast, transfer of ectromelia virus-immune CD8 T cells was ineffective. Our data show that mice deficient in CD8 T-cell function die early in infection, whereas those deficient in B cells or antibody production die much later, indicating that B-cell function becomes critical after the effector phase of the CD8 T-cell response to infection subsides. Strikingly, our results show that antibody prevents virus from seeding the skin and forming pock lesions, which are important for virus transmission between hosts.

History

Publication title

Journal of Virology

Volume

80

Issue

13

Pagination

6339-6344

ISSN

0022-538X

Department/School

Tasmanian School of Medicine

Publisher

Amer Soc Microbiology

Place of publication

1752 N St Nw, Washington, USA, Dc, 20036-2904

Rights statement

Copyright © 2006, American Society for Microbiology

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Prevention of human diseases and conditions; Treatment of human diseases and conditions

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