Complement Requirement of Neutralizing Antibodies Appearing after Primary and Booster Immunizations with Herpes Simplex Virus

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Abstract
Ten rabbits were given a primary course of immunization by 4 weekly intravenous injections of herpes virus, and 1.5 years later 3 of them showing low titers of neutralizing antibody received 1 booster injection. The serological response in the primary immunization was characterized by an early development of complement‐requiring neutralizing (CRN) antibody ahead of that of non‐complement‐requiring neutralizing (N) antibody, the CRN/N ratio being 8 to 128 within 3 weeks. In contrast, N antibody appeared much faster after the booster immunization, the CRN/N ratio approaching 4 within 1 week. The early type IgG, whose neutralizing activity was enhanced by complement (C′) about 16‐fold, was distinct from the late type IgG which could not be enhanced by C′ more than 4‐fold. The late type IgG appeared after 4 weeks and 3 days in the primary and booster immunizations, respectively. Serological examinations of human patients suggested the occurrence of the booster type response in the case of repeated infections among adults.