The amino acids 736-761 of the MERS-CoV spike protein induce neutralizing antibodies: implications for the development of vaccines and antiviral agents.
Based on a bioinformatics analysis of the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavvirus (MERS-CoV) S protein, we synthesized a panel of peptides coupled to keyhole limpet haemocyanin and used them to raise antibodies in rabbits. In addition, the recombinant receptor-binding domain (RBD) was used to raise polyclonal antibodies in mice. All of the antibodies raised by S-peptide immunisation were specific and sensitive for S protein expressed in transfected cells in the indirect immunofluorescence assay or Western blotting. The RBD efficiently elicited neutralizing antibodies against MERS-CoV by blocking viral entry at the binding step. Furthermore, we found that the SP3 peptide, corresponding to amino-acid residues 736-761 of the S protein, elicited robust neutralizing activities by blocking viral entry at the postbinding and membrane fusion steps. We conclude that amino-acid residues 736-761 of the S protein carry neutralizing epitopes that may be used in the development of vaccines and antiviral agents against MERS-CoV.
1 Key Laboratory of Medical Virology, Ministry of Health, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention , Chinese Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China .
Yang
Y
Yang
Yao
Y
Deng
Bo
B
Wen
Huijuan
H
Wang
Xin
X
Meng
Jiaming
J
Lan
George F
GF
Gao
Wenjie
W
Tan
D000818:Animals; D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing / Q000097:blood*; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D015153:Blotting, Western; D019295:Computational Biology; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D065207:Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D011817:Rabbits; D064370:Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus / Q000276:immunology*; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D053586:Virus Internalization / Q000187:drug effects
D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000939:Epitopes; D064370:Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus; D014765:Viral Vaccines