Formation and biologic role of polyoma virus-antibody complexes. A critical role for complement

Interaction of polyoma virus, specific antibody, and complement has been studied. Firm evidence has been gathered that C1 through C3 and not C5 through C9 enhance neutralization of virus-antiviral antibody (V-Ab) complexes. C enhancement of neutralization occurs primarily by agglutination of V-Ab complexes and not by virion lysis or attachment of large protein molecules to the V-Ab complex. In this model, binding of C1, 4, 2, 3 to the V-Ab complex may explain why some viruses concentrate in or infect certain cells bearing C3 receptors such as B lymphocytes, macrophages, and monocytes.