prM-antibody renders immature West Nile virus infectious in vivo

J Gen Virol. 2011 Oct;92(Pt 10):2281-2285. doi: 10.1099/vir.0.031427-0. Epub 2011 Jun 22.

Abstract

West Nile virus (WNV) is a member of the family Flaviviridae and is a neurotropic pathogen responsible for severe human disease. Flavivirus-infected cells release virus particles that contain variable numbers of precursor membrane (prM) protein molecules at the viral surface. Consequently, antibodies are produced against the prM protein. These antibodies have been shown to activate the infectious potential of fully immature flavivirus particles in vitro. Here, we provide in vivo proof that prM antibodies render immature WNV infectious. Infection with antibody-opsonized immature WNV particles caused disease and death of mice, and infectious WNV was found in the brains and sera.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Blocking / metabolism*
  • Antibodies, Viral / metabolism*
  • Antibody-Dependent Enhancement*
  • Brain / virology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Mice
  • Rodent Diseases / mortality
  • Rodent Diseases / pathology
  • Rodent Diseases / virology
  • Serum / virology
  • Viral Envelope Proteins / immunology*
  • Viral Envelope Proteins / metabolism*
  • Virus Internalization*
  • West Nile Fever / mortality
  • West Nile Fever / pathology
  • West Nile Fever / virology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Blocking
  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Viral Envelope Proteins
  • prM protein, Flavivirus