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Maternally-derived passive immunity to enterotropic mouse hepatitis virus.
1Section of Comparative Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.
Archives of Virology
|January 1, 1992
Summary
Maternal antibodies, including immunoglobulin A (IgA) and immunoglobulin G (IgG), protect mouse pups from mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) via milk and in utero. These antibodies wane by weaning but provide passive immunity for several weeks.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Virology
- Maternal-Antibody Transfer
Background:
- Maternal antibodies are crucial for neonatal immunity.
- Enterotropic mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) poses a risk to young mice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the routes and duration of maternal antibody transfer to mouse pups against MHV.
- To characterize the specificities of transferred antibodies.
Main Methods:
- Maternal antibody transfer via intrauterine and lactogenic routes was studied.
- Antibody levels in pup serum and gastric whey were measured.
- Immunoblots were used to determine antibody targets.
Main Results:
- Both intrauterine (IgG) and lactogenic (IgA, IgG) routes transferred MHV antibodies.
- Gastric whey antibodies decreased by weaning (21 days).
- Serum IgG persisted up to 10 weeks; dams consistently transferred antibodies across litters.
Conclusions:
- Maternal antibodies provide significant passive immunity to MHV-infected pups.
- Antibodies target MHV nucleoprotein (N) and glycoprotein (S).
- Consistent antibody transfer across litters highlights dam's immune status.