Detection of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) antigen in the lungs of guinea pigs 6 weeks after experimental infection and despite of the production of neutralizing antibodies.
Infections with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are characterized by frequently occurring reinfections and are regarded to be responsible for bronchial hyperreactivity. In this report we describe a small-animal model suited to study RSV-induced pathogenesis and immune response. Guinea pigs are infected by inhalation of an RSV-aerosol. Lungs of infected animals show signs of a bronchiolitis at 7 days after the initial infection. Although neutralizing serum antibodies are synthesized viral proteins are still detectable at 6 weeks post infection. Therefore, the presence of neutralizing antibodies is obviously not sufficient for rapid clearance of persistent RSV-proteins from the lungs of infected guinea pigs.
Streckert
H J
HJ
Department of Medical Microbiology and Virology, Ruhr-University, Bochum, Federal Republic of Germany.
Philippou
S
S
Riedel
F
F
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D000917:Antibody Formation; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D015707:HN Protein; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D018113:Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D014779:Virus Replication
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D015707:HN Protein; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins; C116204:attachment protein G