Defensins Potentiate a Neutralizing Antibody Response to Enteric Viral Infection

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1005474
• Publication Date: 2016-03-02T18:40:08Z
• Authors: Anshu P. Gounder; Nicolle D. Myers; Piper M. Treuting; Beth A. Bromme; Sarah S. Wilson; Mayim E. Wiens; Wuyuan Lu; André J. Ouellette; Katherine R. Spin...; William C. Parks; Jason G. Smith
• Keywords: Beta defensin

α-defensins are abundant antimicrobial peptides with broad, potent antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral activities in vitro. Although their contribution to host defense against bacteria vivo has been demonstrated, comparable studies of activity lacking. Using a mouse model deficient activated the small intestine, we show that Paneth cell protect mice from oral infection by pathogenic virus, adenovirus 1 (MAdV-1). Survival differences between genotypes lost upon parenteral MAdV-1 infection, strongly implicating role for intestinal defenses attenuating pathogenesis. α-defensin expression impact composition ileal commensal bacterial population, depletion using broad-spectrum antibiotics revealed no effect microbiota on α-defensin-dependent viral Moreover, despite sensitivity neutralization culture, observed barrier due activation kinetics magnitude dissemination brain. Rather, protective neutralizing antibody response was delayed absence α-defensins. This specific because responses or mucosal ovalbumin exposure were not affected deficiency. Thus, play an important as adjuvants immunity is distinct direct culture.