Antibody-Dependent Enhancement of Infection

**Semantic type:** Organ or Tissue Function

**Definition:** A phenomenon that occurs when antibodies present in the body from a primary infection bind to an infecting viral particle during a subsequent infection with a different serotype. The antibodies from the primary infection cannot neutralize the virus. Instead, the Ab-virus complexes attach to Fc receptors on circulating monocytes. The antibodies then facilitate more efficient viral infection of monocytes. The outcome is an increase in the overall replication of the virus and a higher risk of disease that is more severe than the initial infection.

**Synonyms:** - Antibody-Dependent Enhancement