The strong LCMV NP specific Ab response after low-dose infection is likely due to potent LCMV-specific CTL response that leads to lysis of infected cells and release of cell internal viral proteins [14]. We are not aware of any previous data on the biological role of LCMV NP specific Ab in infection but our findings in the LCMV model are reminiscent

of previous work in the influenza virus system. Similar to our observations, influenza NP specific Abs have been shown to decrease viral titers in the lungs after adoptive transfer [24, 25]. The underlying mechanisms, however, appear to be distinct. In contrast to our data, the antiviral activity of the transferred influenza Decitabine NP-specific Abs was dependent on host FcγR expression and injection of NP-specific Abs also enhanced the NP-specific CTL response in the influenza system [25]. Remarkably, we could detect LCMV NP epitopes on the cell surface of intact

LCMV-infected MC57G fibrosarcoma cells with NP-specific mAbs. Similar positive staining results were also obtained with LCMV-infected L929 cells and with other viral strains such as WE or clone 13 (data not shown). Moreover, we used two different selleck chemicals LCMV NP specific mAbs rendering the possibility that this result was due to a peculiar cross-reactivity of the reagents very unlikely. Of note, the presence of LCMV NP epitopes on the surface of infected cells and virions has been described more than 20 years ago by Lehmann-Grube and colleagues [23]. However, follow-up studies based on this surprising observation were never published. Thus, it is

not yet understood why NP or fragments of this protein can be detected on the surface of intact cells or virions. LCMV NP represents the most 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase abundant internal viral protein in both infected cells and virions. Adsorption of NP released by necrotic or killed infected cells onto the cell surface of intact cells or virions may represent one possible explanation for these findings. Interestingly, presence of influenza virus NP epitopes on the surface of infected cells has also been described long time ago but the underlying mechanism is nonetheless still obscure [26, 27]. Hence, in both viral systems, epitopes of internal proteins usually associated with the viral RNA can be found on the surface of infected cells and corresponding Abs facilitate viral elimination in vivo although they are unable to directly prevent virus entry into host cells. Bergthaler et al. showed previously that clearance of high-dose LCMV WE infection in B6 mice was dependent on the generation of antigen-specific Abs [9]. Ab transfer experiments in this study were, however, only performed with the virus neutralizing mAb KL25 specific for LCMV GP. Interestingly, we observed that neither complement component C3 nor FcγR were required for the antiviral activity of the transferred nonneutralizing LCMV-specific Ab.