Persistent viruses such as hepatitis C virus (HCV) or HIV can defeat the body's defense system and cause devastating epidemics worldwide. Recent attempts at vaccinating against HIV have relied on the induction of specific antiviral killer T lymphocytes but have failed to confer protection on the host.

Better knowledge about how a successful defense should operate is therefore essential for developing and refining new vaccines. Here, authors Andreas Bergthaler and colleagues have used a prototypic mouse model to investigate basic defense mechanisms required to eliminate persisting viruses.

Experiments in several genetically engineered mouse models show that contrary to common belief, not only antiviral killer T cells, but also antibodies (produced by B cells), are needed to prevent a virus from persisting in its host. These findings suggest that induction of antibodies, along with antiviral killer T lymphocytes, should be envisaged when devising new strategies for vaccinating against HIV or HCV.

Citation:

"Impaired antibody response causes persistence of prototypic T cell-contained virus."
Bergthaler A, Flatz L, Verschoor A, Hegazy AN, Holdener M, et al. (2009)
PLoS Biol 7(4): e1000080. doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.1000080

Source
Plos Bilogy