Discussion
Our data provide key information regarding the immune correlates of protection induced by LGTV infection of mice which may help design better vaccines against TBEV.
Methods
We used the strategy of adoptive transfer of either serum or T cells from LGTV infected mice into naïve recipient mice and challenged them with lethal dose of TBEV.
Results
We show that mouse infection with LGTV induced both cross-reactive antibodies and T cells against TBEV. To identify correlates of protection, Monitoring the disease progression in these mice for 16 days post infection, showed that serum from LGTV infected mice efficiently protected from developing severe disease. On the other hand, adoptive transfer of T cells from LGTV infected mice failed to provide protection. Histopathological investigation of infected brains suggested a possible role of microglia and T cells in inflammatory processes within the brain.