Point Array Study of Antibody Binding in Viruses

Abstract

To combat viral infections, organisms with adaptive immune systems have developed antibodies that can neutralize or render viruses as non-infectious. This can be done in multiple fashions. The primary way to stop the infection of a host cell with antibodies is by blocking entry into the host with antibodies using steric interference. Additionally, antibodies can cause the coagulation of viral particles to be disposed of by macrophages and other such immune cells. Recently, it has been discovered that certain antibodies directly affect virus structure and can cause destabilization of the capsid causing it to fall apart (Zhu et al.). The specific antibody discovered was named A9 while another antibody investigated in the same study was given the denomination D6. The study investigated the mechanism of neutralization of both of these antibodies were investigated in this study. As such, it is of particular interest to further describe these antibodies interactions with the capsid of their targeted virus Human enterovirus (HE71).