Inhibition of infection caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus by equine neutralizing antibody in aged mice

Int Immunopharmacol. 2007 Mar;7(3):392-400. doi: 10.1016/j.intimp.2006.10.009. Epub 2006 Nov 27.

Abstract

The high susceptibility of elderly to severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) indicates how crucial it is to protect the elderly by various strategies. Aged BALB/c mice displayed a high susceptibility to SARS-CoV and have been a valuable platform for evaluation of strategies against SARS-CoV infection. In this study, we confirmed the validity of this model using various methods, and verified that equine anti-SARS-CoV F(ab')(2) can prevent aged animals from SARS-CoV infection. In a therapeutic setting, treatment with anti-SARS-CoV F(ab')(2) decreased viral load more than several thousand folds in the lungs. Thus, this antibody should be a potential candidate for treatment of elderly patients suffering from SARS.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aging
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Viral / immunology*
  • Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Horses
  • Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments / immunology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / pathology
  • Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / prevention & control*
  • Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / immunology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments