title: Characterization of an immunodominant epitope of small ruminant lentivirus (SRLV) nucleoprotein.
abstract: To extend and complete the epitope mapping of gag-encoded structural proteins, the immunodiagnostic potential of nucleoprotein (NP) of two different small ruminant lentivirus (SRLV) genotypes were antigenically characterized. Respective recombinant counterparts were generated and used in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) format to test a panel of sera from infected flocks. Results clearly indicate that a single linear epitope located within the C-terminal is partially cross-reactive among different SRLV genotypes and may complement multiple epitope ELISA for serological diagnosis of infection. However, in contrast to matrix and capsid antigen epitopes, which drive a genotype-specific immunoresponse, a moderate degree of variation was identified in NP independently of the genotype to which it belongs.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Produzioni Animali, Epidemiologia, Ecologia, Università degli Studi di Torino, Grugliasco (TO), Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lacerenza
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Genovese
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Profiti
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nucera
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rosati
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000940:Antigenic Variation; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D018604:Epitope Mapping / Q000662:veterinary; D015511:Goat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D006041:Goats; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D016180:Lentivirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D017972:Lentiviruses, Ovine-Caprine / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009698:Nucleoproteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes; D009698:Nucleoproteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins