title: Antibodies to West Nile virus: a double-edged sword.
abstract: Antibodies, although critical for host defense against West Nile virus (WNV), can both neutralize and enhance viral infection. In this issue of Cell Host & Microbe, Pierson et al. dissect these opposing effects and demonstrate that, when 120 epitopes are available per WNV virion, approximately 25 are occupied by antibody at 50% neutralization. At lower occupancies, enhancement of infection dominates; at higher ones, neutralization ensues. These results are important for WNV vaccine design and for potential therapeutic use of antibodies to WNV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Cornell University, Weill Medical College, 1300 York Avenue, Box 62, New York, NY 10021, USA. pek2003@med.cornell.edu
authors.forename: Per Johan
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Klasse
authors.forename: Dennis R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Burton
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D009033:Culicidae / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D014901:West Nile Fever / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission; D014902:West Nile virus / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral