The Fate of Antigen-Antibody Complexes on Measles Virus-Induced Giant Cells

Abstract

The importance of different mechanisms of defense (interferon, antibodies, cell-mediated immunity, macrophages) against viral infection is poorly understood. The various mechanisms of defense may have both favorable and deleterious effects. The relative importance of these various mechanisms varies for different viruses and for different host tissues. We have studied the effects of antibodies on measles induced giant cells in the absence of complement. Antibodies have been implicated in the induction of persistent infections by measles virus, possibly through the generation of defective viruses (l, 2).