Dengue Virus Serotype Cross-Reactive Antibodies

The increased risk of severe dengue during repeat DENV infections appear to be due, at least in part, to the ability of pre-existing cross-reactive antibodies to form virus-antibody complexes and infect Fc-gamma receptor-bearing cells, known as antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE). The antigens and epitopes recognized by enhancing antibodies have not been fully defined. Using ADE assay in vitro and AG129 mouse model in vivo, both envelope-specific and prM-specific antibodies in primary DENV-immune sera contribute to ADE. These findings have implication for the development of safe, non-enhancing DENV vaccines.

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de Alwis R, Williams KL, Schmid MA, Lai CY, Patel B, Smith SA, Crowe JE, Wang WK, Harris E, de Silva AM. Dengue viruses are enhanced by distinct populations of serotype cross-reactive antibodies in human immune sera. PLoS Pathogens 2014;10:e1004386.