Mechanisms of antibody-dependent enhancement and its research progress in animal coronaviruses

Abstract Animal coronaviruses are associated with serious diseases in livestock and poultry, resulting in substantial economic losses worldwide. Antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) is a phenomenon whereby pre‑existing pathogen specific antibodies may paradoxically exacerbate viral infections. In this review, we synthesize current classifications of ADE mechanisms, presenting a unified framework comprising two major categories subdivided into five distinct mechanistic subsets. Given the limited research on ADE in animal coronaviruses, we use SARS‑CoV‑2 as a case study to explore five potential ADE mechanisms associated with coronavirus infection. This review aims to provide a valuable reference for elucidating ADE mechanisms in animal coronaviruses.