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Antibodies in human infectious disease
P W Parren1, P Poignard, H J Ditzel
1Department of Immunology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
Immunologic Research
|June 14, 2000
Summary
Human antibody responses target viral envelopes differently, with some antibodies neutralizing viruses and others targeting viral debris. This research explores these responses and antibodies against prion proteins.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Virology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Viral pathogens elicit distinct human antibody responses, targeting mature virions or immature viral debris.
- Pathogen envelopes often evolve to evade antibody recognition.
- Prion diseases involve abnormal protein conformation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review human antibody responses to viral pathogens like HIV-1, Ebola, and RSV.
- To investigate antibodies against cellular prion protein (PrP(c)) and infectious prion protein (PrP(Sc)).
- To understand prion formation and the physiological role of PrP.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent studies on viral antibody responses.
- Generation of a antibody panel targeting cellular and infectious prion proteins.
Main Results:
- Two types of human antibody responses to viruses identified: neutralizing and non-neutralizing.
- Antibodies generated recognize PrP(c) and some also PrP(Sc).
Conclusions:
- Antibody responses to viruses are complex and pathogen-dependent.
- Generated antibodies provide tools to study prion disease mechanisms and PrP function.