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 enterotoxin B (SEB)-activated T cells 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 protein. IFN-γ does not play a very important role in this phenomenon, 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 the survival of VSV-infected Stat1 knockout mice in vivo.