Alternative pathway of complement activation has a beneficial role against Chandipura virus infection

Chandipura virus (CHPV) belongs to family Rhabdoviridae, genus Vesiculovirus and is one of the major causes of acute encephalitis in Indian pediatric population. The complement pathway is the first line of defense against pathogen including virus. The complement cascade can be initiated via three pathways; classical, lectin, or alternative pathway depending on virus recognition. These three pathways converge to activate C3, the central molecule of the complement cascade. C3-deficient human serum did not affect virus infectivity, indicating C3 is strongly dependent on CHPV neutralization. Furthermore, C5 is an initiator of MAC (membrane attack complex; lyses virus particles and infected cell) formation and is also found to be essential for CHPV neutralization. Since there is no specific antiviral treatment or vaccine for Chandipura, this study elucidating the role of the human complement system in CHPV neutralization may help in the design of effective treatment.
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