Undergraduate Researcher Cal Poly, Pomona Baldwin Park, California, United States
Disclosure(s):
Manuel Ramirez: No financial relationships to disclose
Introduction/Rationale: Targeted immunotherapies aimed at enhancing antiviral T cell responses are of particular interest for treating neurotropic viral infections such as West Nile Virus (WNV), which lacks a licensed human vaccine. Previous studies have shown that DEC-205+ dendritic cells (DCs) in the central nervous system (CNS) play a role in reactivating antiviral immunity during WNV infection.
Methods: Methods to investigate this: a hybrid scFv antibody targeting DEC-205 and conjugated to a peptide from the WNV NS4b protein was administered to mice infected with WNV-TX. Poly I:C was co-delivered as an adjuvant to promote DC maturation. Immunological outcomes were assessed by quantifying co-stimulatory molecule expression (CD40, CD80, CD86) on DCs and evaluating T cell activation markers and cytokine profiles.
Results: Mice receiving the DEC-205–NS4b scFv showed increased expression of activation markers and higher levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, suggesting enhanced antiviral immunity.
Conclusion: These findings support targeted DC-based strategies as a promising approach for future WNV vaccine development.
