A new mechanism for the neutralization of enveloped viruses by antiviral antibody (original) (raw)

Nature volume 321, pages 244–246 (1986)Cite this article

Abstract

Despite the considerable research that has been carried out into viral neutralization by antiviral antibody, its mechanisms remain poorly understood1. Cases have been reported in which antiviral antibody can inhibit viral replication without inhibiting the binding and uptake of virus by susceptible cells1. It has been shown that many enveloped viruses enter their target cells by endocytosis and are subsequently located in cellular compartments of increasing acidity2. With several enveloped viruses this acidic _p_H can catalyse a fusion reaction between the membrane of the virus particle and that of a prelysosomal endosome, thus enabling the viral core to enter the cytosol and replication to commence2,3. We have recently demonstrated that such an endosomal fusion event at mild acidic _p_H is involved in the entry pathway of the enveloped flavivirus, West Nile virus (WNV), into macrophages4–6. We now show that antiviral antibody can neutralize WNV by inhibiting this intra-endosomal acid-catalysed fusion step and we speculate on possible implications for the future design of antiviral vaccines.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Subscribe to this journal

Receive 51 print issues and online access

$199.00 per year

only $3.90 per issue

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Additional access options:

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Dimmock, N. J. J. gen Virol. 65, 1015–1022 (1984).
    Article Google Scholar
  2. Marsh, M. Biochem. J. 218, 1–10 (1984).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  3. White, J., Kielian, M. & Helenius, A. Q. Rev. Biophys. 16, 151–195 (1983).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  4. Gollins, S. W. & Porterfield, J. S. J. gen. Virol. 65, 1261–1272 (1984).
    Article Google Scholar
  5. Gollins, S. W. & Porterfield, J. S. J. gen. Virol. 66, 1969–1982 (1985).
    Article Google Scholar
  6. Gollins, S. W. & Porterfield, J. S. J. gen. Virol. 67, 157–166 (1986).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  7. Peiris, J. S. M. & Porterfield, J. S. Nature 282, 509–511 (1979).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  8. Peiris, J. S. M., Gordon, S., Unkeless, J. C. & Porterfield, J. S. Nature 289, 189–191 (1981).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  9. Porterfield, J. S. J. Hyg., Camb. 89, 355–364 (1982).
    Article CAS Google Scholar
  10. Halstead, S. B. Semin. Hemat. 19, 116–131 (1982).
    CAS PubMed Google Scholar
  11. Helenius, A., Marsh, M. & White, J. J. gen. Virol. 58, 47–61 (1982).
    Article CAS Google Scholar

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3RE, UK
    Simon W. Gollins & James S. Porterfield

Authors

  1. Simon W. Gollins
    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
  2. James S. Porterfield
    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Gollins, S., Porterfield, J. A new mechanism for the neutralization of enveloped viruses by antiviral antibody.Nature 321, 244–246 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1038/321244a0

Download citation

This article is cited by