Figure 1.

Mechanisms of antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) of infection. (a) After binding to the viral epitope, the Ab is recognized by a cellular Fc-γ receptor, bringing the viral particle in proximity of the target cell; (b) the binding of the Ab induces conformational changes within the structure of the viral target protein. These changes improve the affinity for the cellular receptor; (c) molecular mimicry by a viral motif of cellular membrane components leads an autoreactive Ab to bind both the viral and the cellular target, bringing the virus in proximity of the target cell.