Antibody-mediated enhancement of Wesselsbron virus in P388D1 cells

Antibody-mediated enhancement of Wesselsbron virus was investigated in P388D1 cell cultures. Virus infection was enhanced in culture by various dilutions of homologous and heterologous flavivirus antibody. Highest enhancement ratios and enhancing antibody titres were obtained with the homologous antibody. Enhancement of Wesselsbron virus infection in P388D1 cultures was also dependent on the multiplicity of infection (MOI) used; cultures infected at the lowest MOI produced the highest enhancement ratios. Of the four heterologous flavivirus IMAF tested for ability to enhance Wesselsbron virus infection, Potiskum virus antibody produced highest fold enhancement and possessed the highest enhancing antibody titre. Zika, Uganda S and Dakar bat IMAF produced lower fold enhancement and had lower enhancing antibody titres.