Vaccination against lethal coronavirus-induced encephalitis with a synthetic decapeptide homologous to a domain in the predicted peplomer stalk.
A surface probability method was used to select a decapeptide homologous to residues 993 to 1002 of the peplomer protein E2 of murine hepatitis virus strain JHM, a neurotropic coronavirus. This sequence of amino acids corresponded to a minor peak on a hydrophilicity plot. Immunization of mice with the chemically synthesized peptide coupled to keyhole limpet hemocyanin elicited high levels of neutralizing antibody and protected against lethal virus challenge. Protection correlated with a critical level of antipeptide antibody, which could be reached after a single inoculation. These results suggest that an appropriate antibody response to a highly restricted, surface-exposed domain of this viral protein is critical in determining the outcome of infection of the central nervous system. This sequence is located in the C-terminal fifth of the E2 peplomers, between two predicted coiled-coil structures.
Talbot
P J
PJ
Virology Research Center, Université du Québec, Laval, Canada.
Dionne
G
G
Lacroix
M
M
D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D004671:Encephalitis, Arbovirus / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000939:Epitopes; D006517:Murine hepatitis virus / Q000276:immunology*; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000276:immunology; D011487:Protein Conformation; D013499:Surface Properties; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D014867:Water
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D000939:Epitopes; D009842:Oligopeptides; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D014765:Viral Vaccines; D014867:Water