Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays using novel Japanese encephalitis virus antigen improve the accuracy of clinical diagnosis of flavivirus infections.
The cross-reactive antibodies induced by flavivirus infections confound serodiagnosis and pathogenesis, especially in secondary infections caused by antigenically closely related yet distinct flaviviruses. The envelope (E) glycoprotein fusion peptide contains immunodominant cross-reactive determinants. Using a recombinant Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) premembrane and E expression plasmid producing JEV virus-like particles (VLPs), dramatic reductions in cross-reactivity were produced by the G106K-L107D (KD) double-mutant VLP against a panel of flavivirus murine monoclonal antibodies. Human serum panels from patients with recent flavivirus infections were analyzed to compare the accuracy of JEV wild-type (WT) and KD VLPs as serodiagnostic antigens in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Statistical analysis demonstrated significant differences in assay performances for accurate determination of current JEV infections between WT and KD antigens by detecting immunoglobulin M antibodies at a serum dilution of 1:4,000 (likelihood ratios = 2.74 [WT] and 22 [KD]). The application and continued development of cross-reactivity-reduced antigens should improve both flavivirus infection serodiagnosis and estimates of disease burden.
Chiou
Shyan-Song
SS
Graduate Institute of Veterinary Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Crill
Wayne D
WD
Chen
Li-Kuang
LK
Chang
Gwong-Jen J
GJ
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D019556:COS Cells; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D006224:Cricetinae; D003429:Cross Reactions; D004664:Encephalitis Virus, Japanese / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005416:Flavivirus / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*; D018177:Flavivirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood*; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000276:immunology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins