Protective effects of monoclonal antibodies against parainfluenza virus type 3-induced brain infection in hamsters.

A collection of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against the haemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) and fusion (F) glycoproteins of parainfluenza virus type 3 (PIV3) was used for passive immunization of intracerebrally infected newborn hamsters. A significant degree of protection was obtained with MAbs against both the HN and F viral proteins, but no individual antibody conferred complete protection against disease. MAbs against different epitopes provided different degrees of protection. A MAb to the Sendai virus HN protein was found to confer protection against PIV3 brain infection.