title: GP4 of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus contains a neutralizing epitope that is susceptible to immunoselection in vitro.
abstract: Glycoprotein 4 (GP4) of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) contains a highly variable neutralizing epitope. The present study aimed to investigate whether this epitope is susceptible to immunoselection by antibodies in vitro. Cultivation of PRRSV in vitro in the continuous presence of neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) directed against this epitope resulted in the selection of mAb-resistant PRRSV strains within five passages. Comparison of the GP4 amino acid (aa) sequence of the original PRRSV strain with the GP4 aa sequences of the mAb-resistant PRRSV strains revealed aa substitutions within this epitope. In conclusion, this study shows that the neutralizing epitope on GP4 is susceptible to immunoselection by antibodies in vitro.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, Merelbeke, Belgium. sarah.costers@ugent.be
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Costers
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Lefebvre
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Van Doorsselaere
authors.forename: Merijn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vanhee
authors.forename: Peter L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Delputte
authors.forename: Hans J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Nauwynck
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D019943:Amino Acid Substitution / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing / Q000276:immunology*; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D002460:Cell Line; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D018985:Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D020125:Mutation, Missense; D019316:Porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus / Q000276:immunology*; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012692:Serial Passage; D013552:Swine; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D018985:Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte; D014764:Viral Proteins