Induction of antimyelin and antioligodendrocyte antibodies by vaccinia virus. An experimental study in the mouse.

The appearance of serum antibodies binding to specific brain antigens was monitored in mice inoculated intracerebrally with a dermotropic or a neurotropic strain of vaccinia virus. Antibodies were measured with a binding assay using [125I]protein. A. Inoculation with the neurotropic strain caused an induction of serum antibodies binding to the myelin membrane, the myelin basic protein and oligodendrocytes while no induction of binding antibodies to neurons was observed. The dermotropic strain failed to elicit the formation of binding antibodies to brain antigens.