Neutralization and sensitization of cytomegalovirus by IgG antibody, anti-IgG antibody, and complement

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Abstract
Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) strain Ad 169 was reacted with IgG antibody obtained from infected renal transplant patients, and the degree of neutralization was determined. The mixture of antibody and virus was then incubated with antihuman IgG (A-IgG) or complement (C) to measure additional neutralization by these agents and thus to estimate the concentration of infectious virus-antibody complexes which had been formed. Neutralization and formation of infectious complexes susceptible to neutralization by A-IgG or C decreased with lower concentrations of antibody. The rate of neutralization of preformed complexes by A-IgG or C was more rapid than the formation of complexes or the neutralization of native virus. If equally infectious suspensions of native virus and virus plus antibody were challenged with additional CMV antibody both solutions were neutralized to the same degree. The data are most compatible with the suggestion that the formation of infectious virus-antibody complexes is the initial step in the neutralization process. These complexes do not appear to be protected from further neutralization.