Relative contribution of dengue prM- and E-specific polyclonal antibodies to neutralization and enhancement

Viral surface proteins, premembrane protein (prM) and envelope (E) protein have been shown to induce a production of antibodies that are involved in both enhancement and neutralization. To explore the feasibility of modifying the relative immune responses to prM and E proteins, four DNA constructs were created and administered into groups of Balb/c mice; pPW01 contains prM and E genes of DENV1, pPW02 contains prM and E genes of DENV2, pPW03 contains DENV1 prM and DENV2 E, and pPW04 contains DENV2 prM and DENV1 E. Exchange of either prM or E from a heterologous serotype does not appear to have an effect on the immunogenicity of the proteins. We have proved that the chimeric pPW03 and pPW04 constructs can produce humoral response in mice. Immunized sera were subjected to neutralization and enhancement assays against DENV2. The results showed that only serotype-specific anti-E antibodies conferred protective function, while the cross-reactive anti-E and anti-prM enhanced infection. In addition, the enhancement of DENV2 infection exhibited a serotype-preference for anti-E antibodies while such response was not observed with anti-prM, reflecting a degree of structural conservation of prM. Taken together, neutralization and enhancement appeared to occur at the same time during the course of infection. Successful prevention of severe symptoms of DENV infection depends on the ability to induce high levels of neutralizing antibodies to subdue the effect of enhancing antibodies.