title: Antigenic and immunogenic investigation of B-cell epitopes in the nucleocapsid protein of peste des petits ruminants virus.
abstract: Attempts were made to identify and map epitopes on the nucleocapsid (N) protein of peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) (Nigeria75/1 strain) using seven monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) and deletion mutants. At least four antigenic domains (A-I, A-II, C-I, and C-II) were identified using the MAbs. Domains A-I (MAb 33-4) and A-II (MAbs 38-4, P-3H12, and P-13A9) were determined to be located on the amino-terminal half (amino acids [aa] 1 to 262), and domains C-I (P-14C6) and C-II (P-9H10 and P-11A6) were within the carboxy-terminal region (aa 448 to 521). Nonreciprocal competition between A-II MAbs and MAbs to C-I and C-II domains was observed, indicating that they may be exposed on the surface of the N protein and spatially overlap each other. Blocking or competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay studies using PPRV serum antibodies revealed that epitopes on the domains A-II and C-II were immunodominant, whereas those on the domains A-I and C-I were not. The competition between MAb and rinderpest virus (RPV) serum antibodies raised against RPV strain LATC was found in two epitopes (P-3H12 and P-13A9) on the domain A-II, indicating that these epitopes may cause cross-reactivity between PPRV and RPV. Identification of immunodominant but PPRV-specific epitopes and domains will provide the foundation in designing an N-protein-based diagnostic immunoassay for PPRV.
authors.affiliation: Foreign Animal Disease Division, National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service, 480 Anyang-6 dong, Anyang, Kyoung-gi, 430-824, Korea. choiks@nvrqs.go.kr
authors.forename: Kang-Seuk
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Jin-Ju
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Nah
authors.forename: Young-Joon
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: Shien-Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Kyoung-Jin
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Nam-In
authors.initials: NI
authors.lastname: Jo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D015153:Blotting, Western; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D018604:Epitope Mapping; D018985:Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology*; D019590:Nucleocapsid Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D018107:Peste-des-petits-ruminants virus / Q000276:immunology*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018985:Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte; D019590:Nucleocapsid Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins