Chapter 9: Immunology of TBEV-Infection

Abstract

• Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a viral infectious disease of the central nervous system caused by the tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV). • TBE is usually a biphasic disease and in humans the virus can only be detected during the first (unspecific) phase of the disease. • Pathogenesis of TBE is not well understood, but both direct viral effects and immune-mediated tissue damage of the central nervous system may contribute to the natural course of TBE. • The effect of TBEV on the innate immune system has mainly been studied in vitro and in mouse models. • Characterization of human immune responses to TBEV is primarily conducted in peripheral blood and cerebrospinal fluid, due to the inaccessibility of brain tissue for sample collection. • Natural killer (NK) cells and T cells are activated during the second (meningoencephalitic) phase of TBE. The potential involvement of other cell types has not been examined to date. • Immune cells from peripheral blood, in particular neutrophils, T cells, B cells and NK cells, infiltrate into the cerebrospinal fluid of TBE patients.