Neutralization Interfering Antibodies: A “Novel” Example of Humoral Immune Dysfunction Facilitating Viral Escape?

• Main Authors: Roberto Burioni, Laura Solforosi, Massimo Clementi, Roberta A. Diotti, Matteo Castelli, Elena Criscuolo, Nicola Clementi, Giuseppe Sautto, Mancini Nicasio
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2012-09-01
• Series: Viruses
• Subjects: neutralizing antibodies; non-neutralizing antibodies; interfering antibodies; viral escape mechanism
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/4/9/1731

The immune response against some viral pathogens, in particular those causing chronic infections, is often ineffective notwithstanding a robust humoral neutralizing response. Several evasion mechanisms capable of subverting the activity of neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) have been described. Among them, the elicitation of non-neutralizing and interfering Abs has been hypothesized. Recently, this evasion mechanism has acquired an increasing interest given its possible impact on novel nAb-based antiviral therapeutic and prophylactic approaches. In this review, we illustrate the mechanisms of Ab-mediated interference and the viral pathogens described in literature as able to adopt this “novel” evasion strategy.