Mapping of B cell epitopes in measles virus nucleocapsid protein

Arch Virol. 2007 Jan;152(1):25-39. doi: 10.1007/s00705-006-0837-5. Epub 2006 Aug 31.

Abstract

The B-cell response against measles nucleoprotein (MeN) plays an important role in the control of measles infection. However, the data on B cell epitopes of MeN are still limited. The objective of this study was to identify B cell epitopes in MeN using monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies raised against recombinant yeast-expressed MeN (rMeN) as well as human sera from measles-positive individuals. After immunization of mice, 15 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against rMeN were generated. The B cell epitopes were localized using recombinant overlapping MeN fragments, PepScan analysis, and competitive ELISA. The epitopes of 14 mAbs were mapped within the C-terminus of MeN between amino acids (aa) 419 and 525. Four mAbs recognized a linear epitope located within a sequence of aa 440-448. Competitive ELISA revealed a cluster of conformational mAb epitopes. Cross-inhibition studies with human sera demonstrated similar localization of B cell epitopes recognized by serum antibodies from naturally infected individuals. Thus, the majority of B cell epitopes are located at the C-terminal domain of MeN. These findings provide new data on the antigenic structure of MeN and are in agreement with recent experimental evidence indicating that the C-terminal domain of MeN is well accessible on the surface of nucleocapsid-like structures.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Antigens, Viral / genetics
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Epitope Mapping / methods*
  • Epitopes / genetics
  • Humans
  • Measles / immunology
  • Measles / virology
  • Measles virus / genetics
  • Measles virus / immunology*
  • Mice
  • Microscopy, Electron
  • Nucleocapsid Proteins
  • Nucleoproteins / chemistry
  • Nucleoproteins / genetics
  • Nucleoproteins / immunology*
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemistry
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Proteins / immunology
  • Viral Proteins / chemistry
  • Viral Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Proteins / immunology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Antigens, Viral
  • Epitopes
  • Nucleocapsid Proteins
  • Nucleoproteins
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Viral Proteins
  • nucleoprotein, Measles virus