Antibody Contributes to Heterosubtypic Immunity In the Cotton Rat Model of Influenza
Abstract
Influenza virus infection or vaccination evokes an immune response to viral hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) surface glycoproteins, which results in neutralizing antibody against influenza A that is subtype or even strain specific, but not broadly protective. A heterosubtypic immune response that offers protection against avariety of different influenza A subtypes has been induced in experimental animal models, and there are epidemiologic data that suggest a degree of protection may occur in humans. Early studies of this broad cross-protective response indicated that cytotoxic Tlymphocytes (CTL) were responsible. However, more recent studies in mice demonstrate that antibodies also contribute to this immune response. We established a model of heterosubtypic immunity (HSI) in cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus) that offer a number of advantages to study influenza pathogenesis and immunity to influenza. Cotton rats were infected with influenza A/PR/8/34 (H1N1) or A/Wuhan/359/95 (H3N2), and then challenged with A/Wuhan/359/95(H3N2) virus 4 weeks later. The results demonstrated measurable heterosubtypic immunity in cotton rats, characterized by enhanced viral clearance, protection from tachypnea (a reliable measure of lower respiratory infection in this model), a vigorous early cellular recall response, and a reduction in bronchiolar epithelial cell damage. Further studies to elucidate the contribution of antibody to this response showed that cotton rats transfused with H1N1-immune serum prior to challenge with an H3N2 virus were protected from influenza-associated tachypnea, and the quality of protection correlated well with the antibody titer transferred. Immunization with an inactivated preparation of virus delivered intramuscularly also provided protection, suggesting that cell mediated and/or mucosal antibody may not be required for protectionin our model.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 29, 2010
- Accession Number
- AD1013424
Entities
People
- Timothy M. Straight
Organizations
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences