title: B-cell epitope mapping of the entire SIVagm envelope glycoprotein including fine mapping of immunogenic regions.
abstract: To allow the precise definition of the anti-lentiviral immune response in the natural host and to facilitate the development of an alternative animal model for vaccine development, we are identifying the immunogenic domains of SIVagm proteins. First, a total of 173 synthetic 15-mer peptides with an overlap of 10 amino acids were produced spanning the entire envelope glycoprotein of the molecular clone SIVagm3. These peptides were used as antigen in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for identifying regions recognized by antibodies from naturally infected African green monkeys and monkeys infected with a molecular clone. Regions corresponding to the HIV-1 V3, the transmembrane protein (TMP) "Gnann peptide", and the C-terminal area of the outer envelope protein were shown to be immunodominant. These regions were re-synthesized as 15-mer peptides with an overlap of 14 amino acids and used to precisely map the epitopes recognized. Sera from 93 captive and 61 wild animals were tested by SIVagm-specific Western blot (WB) and for ELISA reactivity against the immunodominant TMP peptide. One hundred percent (76/76) of the WB-positive captive animals and 98% (41/42) wild WB-positive animals also reacted against the peptide. In contrast, only 62% of the WB-positive sera reacted with the "V3" epitope and 46% with the gp130 C-terminal epitope.
authors.affiliation: Paul-Ehrlich-Institute, Langen, Germany.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Siegel
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Norley
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hartung
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kurth
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology*; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D008254:Macaca nemestrina; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D015302:Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000276:immunology*; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000939:Epitopes; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins