Dengue virus infection induces broadly cross-reactive human IgM antibodies that recognize intact virions in humanized BLT-NSG mice

S Jaiswal, K Smith, A Ramirez… - Experimental …, 2015 - journals.sagepub.com
S Jaiswal, K Smith, A Ramirez, M Woda, P Pazoles, LD Shultz, DL Greiner, MA Brehm…
Experimental Biology and Medicine, 2015journals.sagepub.com
The development of small animal models that elicit human immune responses to dengue
virus (DENV) is important since prior immunity is a major risk factor for developing severe
dengue disease. This study evaluated anti-DENV human antibody (hAb) responses
generated from immortalized B cells after DENV-2 infection in NOD-scid IL2rγnull mice that
were co-transplanted with human fetal thymus and liver tissues (BLT-NSG mice). DENV-
specific human antibodies predominantly of the IgM isotype were isolated during acute …
The development of small animal models that elicit human immune responses to dengue virus (DENV) is important since prior immunity is a major risk factor for developing severe dengue disease. This study evaluated anti-DENV human antibody (hAb) responses generated from immortalized B cells after DENV-2 infection in NOD-scid IL2rγnull mice that were co-transplanted with human fetal thymus and liver tissues (BLT-NSG mice). DENV-specific human antibodies predominantly of the IgM isotype were isolated during acute infection and in convalescence. We found that while a few hAbs recognized the envelope protein produced as a soluble recombinant, a number of hAbs only recognized epitopes on intact virions. The majority of the hAbs isolated during acute infection and in immune mice were serotype-cross-reactive and poorly neutralizing. Viral titers in immune BLT-NSG mice were significantly decreased after challenge with a clinical strain of dengue. DENV-specific hAbs generated in BLT-NSG mice share some of the characteristics of Abs isolated in humans with natural infection. Humanized BLT-NSG mice provide an attractive preclinical platform to assess the immunogenicity of candidate dengue vaccines.
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