MICROBIOLOGY AND IMMUNOLOGY ON-LINE

The normal sequence of appearance is: First: IgM   Second: IgA   Third:  IgG  

Neutralizing IgG may be present throughout life

Anti-Herpes virus antibodies lead to:

Neutralization of infectious virus

Complement-mediated lysis of infected cells

They can be present in mothers milk

ALL THREE CLASSES OF ANTIBODY CAN NEUTRALIZE THE VIRUS BUT ONLY IgG and IgM CAN MEDIATE CYTOLYSIS

In recovery from herpetic infections, the cellular arm of the immune response appears to have the greater role (agammaglobulinemics recover from infection if they have normal T cell functions)

Also important are:
  • Role of interferon
  • cytotoxic T-lymphocytes, NK cells and macrophages in acute and in recurrent infections