Rapid induction of virus-neutralizing antibodies and viral clearance in a single-source outbreak of hepatitis C.

ABSTRACT: In contrast to a detailed understanding of antiviral cellular immune responses, the impact of neutralizing antibodies for the resolution of acute hepatitis C is poorly defined. The analysis of neutralizing responses has been hampered by the fact that patient cohorts as well as hepatitis C virus (HCV) strains are usually heterogeneous, and that clinical data from acute-phase and long-term follow-up after infection are not readily available. Using an infectious retroviral HCV pseudoparticle model system, we studied a cohort of women accidentally exposed to the same HCV strain of known sequence. In this single-source outbreak of hepatitis C, viral clearance was associated with a rapid induction of neutralizing antibodies in the early phase of infection. Neutralizing antibodies decreased or di

SUBMITTER: Pestka JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1851610 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature