Antibodies to West Nile virus: a double-edged sword. uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • Antibodies, although critical for host defense against West Nile virus (WNV), can both neutralize and enhance viral infection. In this issue of Cell Host & Microbe, Pierson et al. dissect these opposing effects and demonstrate that, when 120 epitopes are available per WNV virion, approximately 25 are occupied by antibody at 50% neutralization. At lower occupancies, enhancement of infection dominates; at higher ones, neutralization ensues. These results are important for WNV vaccine design and for potential therapeutic use of antibodies to WNV.

publication date

  • April 19, 2007

Research

keywords

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • West Nile virus

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 34147189542

PubMed ID

  • 18005685

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 1

issue

  • 2