Antibodies specific to the HA2 glycopolypeptide of influenza A virus haemagglutinin with fusion-inhibition activity contribute to the protection of mice against lethal infection.
Four monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) recognizing distinct antigenic sites on the HA2 glycopolypeptide of influenza virus A/Dunedin/4/73 (H3N2) have been tested for in vivo protection. When applied intravenously before infection, three of them increased the survival of BALB/c mice infected with 1 LD50 homologous virus. The protection resulted simultaneously in 2 days earlier clearance of virus from the lungs. These three antibodies inhibited the fusion activity of virus in previous in vitro experiments. One of them, specific to N-terminal aa 1-38 of the HA2 glycopolypeptide, was also tested for protection against the heterologous virus A/Mississippi/1/85 (H3N2). Protection similar to that against the homologous virus was observed. The fourth mAb, without fusion-inhibition activity, did not protect mice. It is concluded that antibodies specific to the antigenically conserved HA2 glycopolypeptide that exhibit fusion-inhibition activity can contribute to the protection of infected mice and mediate more effective recovery from infection.
Gocník
M
M
Institute of Virology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
Fislová
T
T
Institute of Virology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
Sládková
T
T
Institute of Virology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
Mucha
V
V
Institute of Virology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
Kostolanský
F
F
Institute of Virology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
Varečková
E
E
Institute of Virology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006389:Hemagglutinins, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D053122:Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype / Q000276:immunology*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008168:Lung / Q000821:virology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D014780:Viruses
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D006389:Hemagglutinins, Viral; C452559:hemagglutinin HA-2 fusogenic peptide, Influenza virus