SUPERANTIGEN-ACTIVATED T-CELLS REDIRECTED BY A BISPECIFIC ANTIBODY INHIBIT VESICULAR STOMATITIS-VIRUS REPLICATION IN-VITRO AND IN-VIVO

A bispecific Ab (BsAb) that binds the TCR on T cells and the G protein of the vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) can redirect staphylococcal e nterotoxin B (SEB)-activated T tells to kill VSV-infected cells and to inhibit VSV replication in vitro. Inhibition of virus replication in our system is dependent upon the specificity of the Ab for the viral p rotein. IFN-gamma does not play a very important role in this phenomen on, which is mainly mediated by the release of Pfp from CD8(+) T cells , We have used a Stat1 knockout mouse model in which VSV infection is lethal. Infusion of staphylococcal enterotoxin-activated B T cells and bispecific Ab significantly slowed virus progression and prolonged th e survival of VSV-infected Stat1 knockout mice in vivo.