title: Cloning, sequencing, expression, and purification of SARS-associated coronavirus nucleocapsid protein for serodiagnosis of SARS.
abstract: A novel coronavirus has been associated with a worldwide outbreak of atypical pneumonia referred to as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). SARS-CoV nucleocapsid (N) protein has been cloned sequenced and expressed in Escherichia coli strain. Purified N protein was used to measure the SARS-CoV specific IgG antibodies from 16 SARS-CoV infected patients' sera and from 131 control subjects using ELISA assay. Specific antibody responses to the purified recombinant N protein after 10, 20, and 30 days of disease onset were observed in 13 of 16 (81.3%), 16 of 16 (100%) and 16 of 16 (100%) SARS patients sera, respectively. Comparison of detection results with a commercially available diagnostic kit coated with a mixture of SARS-CoV viral proteins showed 9 of 16 (56.3%), 13 of 16 (81.3%), and 15 of 16 (93.7%) positive responses, respectively. None of 131 control sera gave positive reaction in either assay. This data suggests that the N protein of SARS-CoV is immunodominant and this ELISA based test assay for detecting the SARS-CoV N antigen may hold a significant value for SARS diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Institute of Virology, College of Life Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430072, China.
authors.forename: Khalid Amine
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Timani
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Linbai
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Zhenghui
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Zuojiong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Gong
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D000086462:Coronavirus Nucleocapsid Proteins; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D019590:Nucleocapsid Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D045473:Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012698:Serologic Tests; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000086462:Coronavirus Nucleocapsid Proteins; D019590:Nucleocapsid Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins