title: Identification of a novel B-cell epitope specific for avian leukosis virus subgroup J gp85 protein.
abstract: Avian leukosis virus subgroup J (ALV-J) is an avian oncogenic retrovirus that has caused severe economic losses in China. Gp85 protein is the main envelope protein and the most variable structural protein of ALV-J. It is also involved in virus neutralization. In this study, a specific monoclonal antibody, 4A3, was produced against the ALV-J gp85 protein. Immunofluorescence assays showed that 4A3 could react with different strains of ALV-J, including the British prototype isolate HPRS103, the American strains, an early Chinese broiler isolate, and layer isolates. A linear epitope on the gp85 protein was identified using a series of partially overlapping fragments spanning the gp85-encoding gene and subjecting them to western blot analysis. The results indicated that (134)AEAELRDFI(142) was the minimal linear epitope that could be recognized by mAb 4A3. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) revealed that chicken anti-ALV-J sera and mouse anti-ALV-J gp85 sera could also recognize the minimal linear epitope. Alignment analysis of amino acid sequences indicated that the epitope was highly conserved among 34 ALV-J strains. Furthermore, the epitope was not conserved among subgroup A and B of avian leukosis virus (ALV). Taken together, the mAb and the identified epitope may provide valuable tools for the development of new diagnostic methods for ALV-J.
authors: Division of Avian Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, No. 427 Maduan Street, Nan Gang District, Harbin, 150001, Heilongjiang, People's Republic of China, lixiaofei2338@sina.com.
authors: Xiaofei
authors: X
authors: Li
authors: Haibo
authors: H
authors: Zhu
authors: Qi
authors: Q
authors: Wang
authors: Jiashan
authors: J
authors: Sun
authors: Yanni
authors: Y
authors: Gao
authors: Xiaole
authors: X
authors: Qi
authors: Yongqiang
authors: Y
authors: Wang
authors: Honglei
authors: H
authors: Gao
authors: Yulong
authors: Y
authors: Gao
authors: Xiaomei
authors: X
authors: Wang
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D001353:Avian Leukosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D001354:Avian Leukosis Virus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002645:Chickens; D018604:Epitope Mapping; D018985:Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D013045:Species Specificity; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D018985:Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins