title: Genetic and antigenic characterization of the matrix protein of two genetically distinct ovine lentiviruses.
abstract: Small Ruminant Lentiviruses (SRLV) are a group of non-oncogenic retroviruses including Maedi-Visna virus (MVV) and Caprine Arthritis-Encephalitis virus (CAEV), which cause a chronic, multisystemic disease in sheep and goats, respectively. Phylogenetic analyses of SRLV are based in most cases on partial pol sequences. Several reports indicate that the species specificity of these viruses is not as strict as previously thought; MVV-like viruses have been found in goat populations and vice versa. Recently, the sequencing of some Italian ovine isolates has shown the presence of a new cluster more similar to classical caprine isolates (CAEV-like). Few data are available on the variability of structural proteins involved in the antibody response of infected animals. In this study, the gag gene of two genetically distinct ovine isolates, namely the MVV-like It-561 and the CAEV-like It-Pi1, was sequenced and the epitopes of matrix protein (MA) were mapped. Recombinant MAs and their subunits from both ovine aforementioned strains were tested against a panel of sheep and goat sera. Reactive epitopes were found in all three subunits of MA, although the central subunit displayed a more consistent reactivity. Epitope mapping of this subunit demonstrated that the amino acid sequence of at least one immunodominant epitope was quite different in the two strains. This antigenic variability may affect the sensitivity of a single strain-based immunoassay and suggests that both SRLV genotypes should be used in the development of future diagnostic tests, to avoid viral strain selection during the eradication programmes.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Produzioni Animali, Epidemiologia ed Ecologia, Università degli studi di Torino, Via Leonardo da Vinci 44, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Grego
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bertolotti
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Carrozza
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Profiti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mazzei
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tolari
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rosati
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D016088:Arthritis-Encephalitis Virus, Caprine / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D001483:Base Sequence; D018604:Epitope Mapping / Q000662:veterinary; D015750:Genes, gag; D015751:Genes, pol; D018740:Genetic Heterogeneity; D006041:Goats / Q000821:virology; D010802:Phylogeny; D012418:Ruminants / Q000821:virology*; D012756:Sheep / Q000821:virology; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D014790:Visna-maedi virus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins