title: Identification of an immunodominant neutralizing and protective epitope from measles virus fusion protein by using human sera from acute infection.
abstract: Polyclonal sera obtained from African children with acute measles were used to screen a panel of 15-mer overlapping peptides representing the sequence of measles virus (MV) fusion (F) protein. An immunodominant antigenic region from the F protein (p32; amino acids 388 to 402) was found to represent an amino acid sequence within the highly conserved cysteine-rich domain of the F protein of paramyxoviruses. Epitope mapping of this peptide indicated that the complete 15-amino-acid sequence was necessary for high-affinity interaction with anti-MV antibodies. Immunization of two strains of mice with the p32 peptide indicated that it was immunogenic and could induce antipeptide antibodies which cross-reacted with and neutralized MV infectivity in vitro. Moreover, passive transfer of antipeptide antibodies conferred significant protection against fatal rodent-adapted MV-induced encephalitis in susceptible mice. These results indicate that this epitope represents a candidate for inclusion in a future peptide vaccine for measles.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Atabani
authors.forename: O E
authors.initials: OE
authors.lastname: Obeid
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chargelegue
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Aaby
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Whittle
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Steward
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D002459:Cell Fusion; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D000939:Epitopes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D005714:Gambia; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007223:Infant; D008457:Measles / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D008459:Measles virus / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000276:immunology; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D013997:Time Factors; D014709:Vero Cells; D014760:Viral Fusion Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D010948:Viral Plaque Assay
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000939:Epitopes; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D014760:Viral Fusion Proteins