Objective: To identify and characterize the epitope associated with the virus attachment protein (VAP) of hantaan virus.
Methods: The monoclonal antibody 3G1 was used as the ligand to biospan from a phage-displayed 12-amino acid peptide library, then the positive phage clones were chosen and sequenced. The amino acid sequences of them were compared with that of hantaan virus G2 in homology. The characteristics of positive phage were studied by IFA and ELISA. A decapeptide combining to cell membrane was observed under laser scanning confocal microscope (LSCM).
Results: The conservative motif PX(1-2) HX(0-2) H displaying on positive clones shared homologous amino acid sequence with G2 96YPWHTAKCHY105.
Conclusion: G2 96YPWHTAKCHY105 might play some roles in virus binding to host cell, and might be a possible key epitope of hantaan virus VAP.