Data from: Evolution of functional antibodies following acute Epstein-Barr Virus infection

While Epstein-Barr virus causes mostly asymptomatic infection, associated
malignancies, and autoimmune and lymphoproliferative diseases occur. To
dissect the evolution of humoral immune responses over the course of EBV
infection and to gain a better understanding of the potential contribution
of antibody (Ab) function to viral control, we comprehensively profiled Ab
specificities and Fc-functionalities using systems serology and VirScan.
Ab functions against two early (p18 and p47/54) and two latent (gp350/220
and EBNA-1) EBV proteins were overall modest and/or short-lived, differing
from humoral responses induced during acute infection by other viruses
such as HIV. In the first year post-infection, only p18 elicited robust
IgM-driven complement deposition and IgG-driven neutrophil phagocytosis
while responses against EBNA-1 were largely Fc-functionally silent and
only matured during chronic infection to drive phagocytosis. In contrast,
Abs against Influenza virus readily mediated broad Fc-activity in all
participants. These data suggest that EBV evades the induction of robust
Fc-functional Abs, potentially due to the virus’ life cycle, switching
from lytic to latent stages during infection.