Characterization of humoral responses to Nipah virus infection in the Syrian Hamster model of disease
Florine E M Scholte, Sergio E Rodriguez, Stephen R Welch, Katherine A Davies, Sarah C Genzer, JoAnn D Coleman-McCray, Jessica R Harmon, Teresa E Sorvillo, Michael K Lo, Elif Karaaslan, Eric Bergeron, Joel M Montgomery, Jessica R Spengler, Christina F Spiropoulou- Infectious Diseases
- Immunology and Allergy
Abstract
Nipah virus (NiV) is a highly pathogenic paramyxovirus. The Syrian hamster model recapitulates key features of human NiV disease and is a critical tool for evaluating antivirals and vaccines. Here we describe longitudinal humoral immune responses in NiV-infected Syrian hamsters. Samples were obtained 1–28 days after infection and analyzed by ELISA, neutralization, and Fc-mediated effector function assays. NiV infection elicited robust antibody responses against the nucleoprotein and attachment glycoprotein. Levels of neutralizing antibodies were modest and only detectable in surviving animals. Fc-mediated effector functions were mostly observed in nucleoprotein-targeting antibodies. Antibody levels and activities positively correlated with challenge dose.