Ward Richard
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA.
Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2009 Mar;28(3 Suppl):S57-9. doi: 10.1097/INF.0b013e3181967c16.
Rotavirus is a double-stranded RNA virus composed of 3 protein layers. These layers contain structural proteins (eg, VP4, VP6, and VP7) that are involved in the induction of immunity. Despite extensive research in animal models and humans, the mechanisms and effectors of protection against rotavirus after either natural infection or vaccination remain unclear. Complicating factors include the variety of immunologic responses produced after both natural infection and vaccination, and the fact that animal models do not fully mimic the human immunologic responses, even when inoculated with homologous rotaviruses. Nevertheless, it appears that neutralizing antibodies have a role in protection against rotavirus infection and disease, but that other effectors, such as non-neutralizing antibodies and T cells, have important effector properties as well. These effectors likely have overlapping functions, thus providing enhanced protection. The results of further research to elucidate the immunologic mechanism of protection will provide insight into improving the efficacy of current vaccines.
轮状病毒是一种由3层蛋白质构成的双链RNA病毒。这些层包含参与免疫诱导的结构蛋白（如VP4、VP6和VP7）。尽管在动物模型和人类中进行了广泛研究，但自然感染或接种疫苗后针对轮状病毒的保护机制和效应因子仍不清楚。复杂因素包括自然感染和接种疫苗后产生的多种免疫反应，以及动物模型即使接种同源轮状病毒也不能完全模拟人类免疫反应这一事实。然而，中和抗体似乎在预防轮状病毒感染和疾病中发挥作用，但其他效应因子，如非中和抗体和T细胞，也具有重要的效应特性。这些效应因子可能具有重叠功能，从而提供增强的保护。进一步研究以阐明免疫保护机制的结果将为提高当前疫苗的效力提供见解。
