Cutting edge: paradigm revisited: antibody provides resistance to Listeria infection

BT Edelson, P Cossart, ER Unanue - The Journal of Immunology, 1999 - journals.aai.org
BT Edelson, P Cossart, ER Unanue
The Journal of Immunology, 1999journals.aai.org
Listeriolysin O (LLO) is a secreted pore-forming toxin of the facultative intracellular bacterium
Listeria monocytogenes. We assessed the ability of a murine anti-LLO mAb to affect the
course of infection in mice challenged with Listeria. This mAb was previously shown to be
capable of neutralizing LLO-mediated pore formation in vitro, and here we show that the
passive administration of this Ab to mice before infection provides increased resistance.
Mice treated with the mAb were protected from a lethal challenge with virulent Listeria and …
Abstract
Listeriolysin O (LLO) is a secreted pore-forming toxin of the facultative intracellular bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. We assessed the ability of a murine anti-LLO mAb to affect the course of infection in mice challenged with Listeria. This mAb was previously shown to be capable of neutralizing LLO-mediated pore formation in vitro, and here we show that the passive administration of this Ab to mice before infection provides increased resistance. Mice treated with the mAb were protected from a lethal challenge with virulent Listeria and showed a significant reduction in Listeria burden during the first hours to days postinfection. These effects of the Ab were independent of host B or T cells, since treatment with the mAb provided enhanced resistance to SCID mice. The titer of anti-LLO Abs during the regular infection of mice with Listeria was found to be low to negative.
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