A Weak Neutralizing Antibody Response to Hepatitis C Virus Envelope Glycoprotein Enhances Virus Infection

We have completed a phase 1 safety and immunogenicity trial with hepatitis C virus (HCV) envelope glycoproteins, E1 and E2, with MF59 adjuvant as a candidate vaccine. Neutralizing activity to HCV genotype 1a was detected in approximately 25% of the vaccinee sera. In this study, we evaluated vaccinee sera from poor responders as a potential source of antibody dependent enhancement (ADE) of HCV infection. Sera with poor neutralizing activity enhanced cell culture grown HCV genotype 1a or 2a, and surrogate VSV/HCV pseudotype infection titer, in a dilution dependent manner. Surrogate pseudotypes generated from individual HCV glycoproteins suggested that antibody to the E2 glycoprotein; but not the E1 glycoprotein, was the principle target for enhancing infection. Antibody specific to FcRII expressed on the hepatic cell surface or to the Fc portion of Ig blocked enhancement of HCV infection by vaccinee sera. Together, the results from in vitro studies suggested that enhancement of viral infectivity may occur in the absence of a strong antibody response to HCV envelope glycoproteins

Antibody-mediated enhancement aggravates chikungunya virus infection and disease severity

The arthropod-transmitted chikungunya virus (CHIKV) causes a flu-like disease that is characterized by incapacitating arthralgia. The re-emergence of CHIKV and the continual risk of new epidemics have reignited research in CHIKV pathogenesis. Virus-specific antibodies have been shown to control virus clearance, but antibodies present at sub-neutralizing concentrations can also augment virus infection that exacerbates disease severity. To explore this occurrence, CHIKV infection was investigated in the presence of CHIKV-specific antibodies in both primary human cells and a murine macrophage cell line, RAW264.7. Enhanced attachment of CHIKV to the primary human monocytes and B cells was observed while increased viral replication was detected in RAW264.7 cells. Blocking of specific Fc receptors (FcγRs) led to the abrogation of these observations. Furthermore, experimental infection in adult mice showed that animals had higher viral RNA loads and endured more severe joint inflammation in the presence of sub-neutralizing concentrations of CHIKV-specific antibodies. In addition, CHIKV infection in 11 days old mice under enhancing condition resulted in higher muscles viral RNA load detected and death. These observations provide the first evidence of antibody-mediated enhancement in CHIKV infection and pathogenesis and could also be relevant for other important arboviruses such as Zika virus

Monoclonal-anti-Fc receptor IgG blocks antibody enhancement of viral replication in macrophages

Flaviviruses, when complexed with antibody at subneutralizing concentrations, show enhanced replication in human and simian peripheral blood leukocytes and in P388 D1 and other macrophage cell lines. A comparable phenomenon has been demonstrated with alphaviruses and Bunyaviruses in P388 D1 cells, but cells lacking macrophage characteristics fail to show antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) of viral replication. It has been suggested that the macrophage Fc receptor (FcR) provides an efficient route of entry of virus through the attachment of non-neutralized virus-antibody complexes and that for those viruses that escape destruction by the phagocyte, antibody results in a paradoxical increase in virus replication. Wst Nile virus (WNV) replication in the P388 D1 macrophage cell line provides a reproducible model system for studying ADE of viral replication. Mouse macrophages have two FcRs-FcR1, which is trypsin-sensitive and binds IgG2a, and FcRII, which is trypsin-resistant and binds IgG2b and IgG1 complexes. The FcR has been purified using rat anti-mouse FcR monoclonal antibody which blocks FcRII. We show here that anti-FcR IgG and its Fab fragment block ADE of virus replication by anti-WNV monoclonal antibodies.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Arboviruses: a family on the move

Arboviruses are a diverse group of vector-borne viruses, many of whose members are the cause of significant human morbidity and mortality. Over the last 30 years, the emergence and/or resurgence of arboviruses have posed a considerable global health threat. The ongoing geographical expansion of the dengue viruses (DENV), along with the explosive outbreaks of West Nile virus (WNV), Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) and more recently, Zika virus (ZIKV) have all served as reminders that new epidemics may emerge at any time from this diversity. A clearer understanding of what mechanisms drive these dramatic changes in vector-host transmission cycles that result in the human population becoming significantly more exposed, will help to prepare us for the next emerging epidemic/pandemic. This Chapter seeks to provide a brief overview of the arboviruses, their mode of transmission and some of the known factors that drive their expansion