Smallpox vaccine-induced antibodies are necessary and sufficient for protection against monkeypox virus.

Abstract

Vaccination with live vaccinia virus affords long-lasting protection against variola virus, the agent of smallpox. Its mode of protection in humans, however, has not been clearly defined. Here we report that vaccinia-specific B-cell responses are essential for protection of macaques from monkeypox virus, a variola virus ortholog. Antibody-mediated depletion of B cells, but not CD4+ or CD8+ T cells, abrogated vaccine-induced protection from a lethal intravenous challenge with monkeypox virus. In addition, passive transfer of human vaccinia-neutralizing antibodies protected nonimmunized macaques from severe disease. Thus, vaccines able to induce long-lasting protective antibody responses may constitute realistic alternatives to the currently available smallpox vaccine (Dryvax).

• Authors: Yvette Edghill-Smith, Hana Golding, Jody Manischewitz, Lisa R King, Dorothy Scott, Mike Bray, Aysegul Nalca, Jay W Hooper, Chris A Whitehouse, Joern E Schmitz, Keith A Reimann, Genoveffa Franchini
• Journal: Nature medicine (Nat Med) Vol. 11 Issue 7 Pg. 740-7 (Jul 2005) ISSN: 1078-8956 [Print] United States
• PMID: 15951823 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Antibodies
• DryVax vaccine
• Smallpox Vaccine

Topics

• Animals
• Antibodies (immunology)
• Antibody Formation
• B-Lymphocytes (immunology)
• CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes (immunology)
• CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes (immunology)
• Immunologic Memory
• Macaca mulatta
• Mpox (monkeypox) (immunology, prevention & control)
• Monkeypox virus (immunology)
• Smallpox Vaccine (immunology)