title: A novel linear neutralizing epitope of hepatitis E virus.
abstract: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a serious public health problem that causes acute hepatitis in humans and is primarily transmitted through fecal and oral routes. The major anti-HEV antibody responses are against conformational epitopes located in a.a. 459-606 of HEV pORF2. All reported neutralization epitopes are present on the dimer domain constructed by this peptide. While looking for a neutralizing monoclonal antibody (MAb)-recognized linear epitope, we found a novel neutralizing linear epitope (L2) located in a.a. 423-437 of pORF2. Moreover, epitope L2 is proved non-immunodominant in the HEV-infection process. Using the hepatitis B virus core protein (HBc) as a carrier to display this novel linear epitope, we show herein that this epitope could induce a neutralizing antibody response against HEV in mice and could protect rhesus monkeys from HEV infection. Collectively, our results showed a novel non-immunodominant linear neutralizing epitope of hepatitis E virus, which provided additional insight of HEV vaccine.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361005, PR China.
authors.forename: Zi-Min
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361005, PR China.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361005, PR China.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361005, PR China.
authors.forename: Gui-Ping
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361005, PR China.
authors.forename: Fan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361005, PR China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361005, PR China.
authors.forename: Si-Ling
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361005, PR China. Electronic address: zhengzizheng@xmu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Zi-Zheng
authors.initials: ZZ
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361005, PR China; School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361005, PR China. Electronic address: nsxia@xmu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Ning-Shao
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Xia
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000097:blood; D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing / Q000097:blood*; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018604:Epitope Mapping; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016752:Hepatitis E virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000939:Epitopes
keywords: Hepatitis E virus; Linear epitope; Neutralization; Nonimmunodominant; Vaccine