A synthetic peptide based on the NS1 non-structural protein of tick-borne encephalitis virus induces a protective immune response against fatal encephalitis in an experimental animal model.
Linear immunogenic peptides corresponding to amino acid sequences from the NS1 non-structural protein from tick-borne encephalitis virus (strain Sophyin) were predicted using established algorithms and synthesized. Of the 12 peptides predicted, 11 were able to induce peptide-specific antibodies in BALB/c mice but only 1 of these 11 was able to induce antibodies, which reacted with the native protein in a radio-immune precipitation assay. This peptide corresponds to amino acids 37--55, and forms one of the predicted structurally conserved alpha helices of the virus NS1 protein. It was able to protect 60% of animals against lethal challenge with the homologous highly pathogenic tick-borne encephalitis virus strain, and adoptive transfer experiments indicated the involvement of the antibodies induced by this peptide in its protective activity in mice.
Volpina
O M
OM
Shemyakin and Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry RAS, Moscow, Russia.
Volkova
T D
TD
Koroev
D O
DO
Ivanov
V T
VT
Ozherelkov
S V
SV
Khoretonenko
M V
MV
Vorovitch
M F
MF
Stephenson
J R
JR
Timofeev
A V
AV
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004669:Encephalitis Viruses, Tick-Borne / Q000276:immunology*; D004675:Encephalitis, Tick-Borne / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007114:Immunization; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010455:Peptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; C100315:NS1 protein, Flavivirus; D010455:Peptides; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins; D014765:Viral Vaccines