New mechanism explaining the inadequate immune defense against chronic viral infection has been discovered by University of Basel scientists.

‘New discovery may provide a basis to improve vaccination strategies against chronic viral diseases.’

A team of scientists headed by Prof. Daniel Pinschewer at the Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, reports that the inadequate antibody response to chronic viral diseases is due to the strong inflammatory reaction upon infection. While most pronounced at the onset of an infection, inflammation can persist for decades, especially in HIV/AIDS.




Hasty immune response lasts only short-term
Under the influence of inflammatory messengers, so called interferons, B cells produce as many antibodies as they possibly can. Unfortunately, this hasty response occurs at the expense of sustainability. B cells that turn on antibody production too quickly lose their potential to proliferate and die shortly thereafter. As a consequence, the immune response takes an impetuous start but subsides rapidly.
The scientists assume that this panic reaction of B cells reflects a mechanism ensuring an optimized response to acute life threatening infections. In the context of chronic infections, however, the battle is not decided within a matter of days, but rather only after months or years. Under these circumstances, the hasty reaction of our body seems inappropriate and may actually favor the virus.
Cornerstone for new vaccines
For viral diseases such as HIV or hepatitis C protective vaccines remain unavailable.
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