Pathogen-specific deep sequence-coupled biopanning: A method for surveying human antibody responses

PLoS One. 2017 Feb 2;12(2):e0171511. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0171511. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

Identifying the targets of antibody responses during infection is important for designing vaccines, developing diagnostic and prognostic tools, and understanding pathogenesis. We developed a novel deep sequence-coupled biopanning approach capable of identifying the protein epitopes of antibodies present in human polyclonal serum. Here, we report the adaptation of this approach for the identification of pathogen-specific epitopes recognized by antibodies elicited during acute infection. As a proof-of-principle, we applied this approach to assessing antibodies to Dengue virus (DENV). Using a panel of sera from patients with acute secondary DENV infection, we panned a DENV antigen fragment library displayed on the surface of bacteriophage MS2 virus-like particles and characterized the population of affinity-selected peptide epitopes by deep sequence analysis. Although there was considerable variation in the responses of individuals, we found several epitopes within the Envelope glycoprotein and Non-Structural Protein 1 that were commonly enriched. This report establishes a novel approach for characterizing pathogen-specific antibody responses in human sera, and has future utility in identifying novel diagnostic and vaccine targets.

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Viral / immunology
  • Antibody Formation / physiology*
  • Antigens, Viral / genetics
  • Antigens, Viral / immunology
  • Dengue / immunology
  • Dengue Virus / genetics
  • Dengue Virus / immunology
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Epitopes / genetics
  • Epitopes / immunology*
  • High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing / methods*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology
  • Infections / immunology*
  • Levivirus / immunology
  • Peptide Fragments / genetics
  • Peptide Fragments / immunology
  • Peptide Library

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Antigens, Viral
  • Epitopes
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Peptide Library