Antibody and host cells (macrophages) collaborate to provide effective resistance against the spread of Coxsackie B-3 virus in mice.
SUMMARY Peritoneal exudate cells transferred from adult to suckling BALB/c mice before infection of the recipients with Coxsackie B-3 virus protected them against the lethal effects of the virus. Undiluted antibody alone also prevented lethal virus infections in suckling mice but diluted antibody conferred protection only when transferred together with syngeneic adult peritoneal exudate cells. Impairment of macrophage function by intravenous injection of silica increased the susceptibility to virus infection of adult mice. Peritoneal exudate cells inactivated the virus in vitro, and this property may be related to their protective effect in vivo. It is suggested that antibody and host cells collaborate to provide effective resistance against the spread of Coxsackie virus.
Rager‐Zisman et al. (1973) studied this question.