Identification and localization of a limited number of predominant conformation-independent antibody epitopes of Theiler's murine encephalomyelitus virus.
Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV)-induced demyelinating disease in mice is a well established animal model for human multiple sclerosis (MS). Identification of pathogenic epitopes may be helpful in understanding the pathogenesis of this immune-mediated disease. In order to analyze the viral epitopes, we have generated approx. 150 recombinant lambda gt11 clones expressing various capsid areas of TMEV. Six predominant areas, ranging from 13-26 amino acid residues, (3 in VP1, 2 in VP2 and 1 in VP3) are readily recognized by conformation-independent antibodies from virus-infected mice. These areas have been designated as A-1A (VP1 13-27th residues), A-1B (VP1 145-167), A-1C (VP1 251-276), A-2A (VP2 2-14), A-2B (VP2 165-179), and A-3A (tentatively VP3 24-43). Antibodies from TMEV-infected susceptible SJL/J mice strongly react with A-1B, A-2A and A-2B, in contrast to antibodies from resistant BALB/c mice which mainly recognize A-1A and A-2A. Interestingly, the reactivity pattern of antibodies from TMEV-infected mice are somewhat different from that of antibodies from TMEV-immunized mice. Although the majority of antibodies in TMEV-infected mice recognizes conformation-dependent epitopes, the differential recognition of the conformation-independent antibody epitopes by susceptible mice may play a role in TMEV-induced demyelination.
Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, IL 60611.
B S
BS
Kim
Y K
YK
Choe
M A
MA
Crane
C R
CR
Jue
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000737:chemistry; D003711:Demyelinating Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D004769:Enterovirus Infections / Q000276:immunology; D000939:Epitopes / Q000737:chemistry; D004680:Maus Elberfeld virus / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D008958:Models, Molecular; D011487:Protein Conformation; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D000939:Epitopes; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins