Prior infection and passive transfer of neutralizing antibody prevent replication of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus in the respiratory tract of mice.
Following intranasal administration, the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus replicated to high titers in the respiratory tracts of BALB/c mice. Peak replication was seen in the absence of disease on day 1 or 2, depending on the dose administered, and the virus was cleared within a week. Viral antigen and nucleic acid were detected in bronchiolar epithelial cells during peak viral replication. Mice developed a neutralizing antibody response and were protected from reinfection 28 days following primary infection. Passive transfer of immune serum to naïve mice prevented virus replication in the lower respiratory tract following intranasal challenge. Thus, antibodies, acting alone, can prevent replication of the SARS coronavirus in the lung, a promising observation for the development of vaccines, immunotherapy, and immunoprophylaxis regimens.
Subbarao
Kanta
K
Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA. Ksubbarao@niaid.nih.gov
McAuliffe
Josephine
J
Vogel
Leatrice
L
Fahle
Gary
G
Fischer
Steven
S
Tatti
Kathleen
K
Packard
Michelle
M
Shieh
Wun-Ju
WJ
Zaki
Sherif
S
Murphy
Brian
B
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D045473:Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology*; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D014779:Virus Replication
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral