Pseudorabies virus (PRV)-specific antibodies suppress intracellular viral protein levels in PRV-infected monocytes.
Blood monocytes infected with pseudorabies virus (PRV), a swine alphaherpesvirus, are not eliminated efficiently by antibody-dependent immunity and may occasionally transport PRV to the pregnant uterus of vaccinated animals. This study examines in vitro the long-term fate of PRV-infected monocytes cultivated in the presence of porcine PRV-specific antibodies. All monocytes were infected and expressed viral late proteins, and 30 % of PRV-infected monocytes cultivated with PRV-specific antibodies survived up to 194 h post-infection (p.i.), the end of the experiment (compared to 0 % for cells cultivated with PRV-negative antibodies). Of these surviving cells, +/-75 % no longer expressed microscopically detectable viral late proteins from 144 h p.i. onwards. Remarkably, monocytes infected with a PRV gB-null virus did not survive in the presence of PRV-specific antibodies. These data suggest that PRV-specific antibodies suppress viral protein levels in infected monocytes, perhaps helping the virus to persist and reach internal organs in vaccinated animals.
Laboratory of Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, Merelbeke 9820, Belgium.
Herman W
HW
Favoreel
Laboratory of Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, Merelbeke 9820, Belgium.
Gerlinde R
GR
Van de Walle
Laboratory of Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, Merelbeke 9820, Belgium.
Hans J
HJ
Nauwynck
Federal Research Centre for Virus Diseases of Animals, Insel Riems, Germany.
Thomas C
TC
Mettenleiter
Laboratory of Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, Merelbeke 9820, Belgium.
Maurice B
MB
Pensaert
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D002470:Cell Survival; D011558:Herpesvirus 1, Suid / Q000276:immunology*; D009000:Monocytes / Q000821:virology*; D013552:Swine; D014611:Vaccination; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000032:analysis*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D014764:Viral Proteins