title: Expression cloning and antigenic analysis of the nucleocapsid protein of equine arteritis virus.
abstract: A series of recombinant fusion proteins derived from equine arteritis virus (EAV) open reading frame (ORF) 7 have been used to define the immunoreactive region of the viral nucleocapsid (N) protein. Reactivities of recombinant N fusion proteins with post-infection equine sera in immunoblots and ELISAs indicate that the major nucleocapsid protein epitope is located within amino acid residues 1-69. In ELISAs two recombinant nucleocapsid fusion proteins containing residues 1-69 (rN1-69) and 1-28 (rN1-28) discriminated between pre- and post-infection, and pre- and post-vaccination serum samples. Additionally rN1-69 and rN1-28 detected seroconversions following vaccination with a killed virus preparation, even in the absence of a detectable virus neutralising response. Although a good correlation existed between virus neutralising antibody and rN1-69 ELISA positive values in post-infection sera, all the rN proteins failed to induce any virus neutralising response in immunised rabbits.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Preventive Medicine, Animal Health Trust, Newmarket, Suffolk, UK.
authors.forename: E D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Chirnside
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Francis
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Mumford
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D017931:DNA Primers; D007240:Equartevirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D006736:Horses; D007106:Immune Sera / Q000276:immunology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D019251:Nucleocapsid / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D011817:Rabbits; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D017931:DNA Primers; D007106:Immune Sera; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins