Monoclonal antibodies directed to E1 glycoprotein of rubella virus

Summary We have prepared four monoclonal antibodies to rubella virus E1 glycoprotein. Three nonoverlapping antigenic sites were delineated on E1 protein by competitive binding assays. Antibodies binding to one site were characterized by high hemagglutination inhibition (HI) titer but poor neutralizing activity. The addition of antiglobulin conferred neutralizing activity. Antibodies directed to two other antigenic sites had modest hemolysis inhibition but little or no HI and neutralizing activities. The addition of antiglobulin markedly augmented HI activity but had little effect on neutralizing activity. Epitopes defined by three antibodies were conserved among four rubella virus strains examined.With 4 Figures     

Human T- and B-cell epitopes of E1 glycoprotein of rubella virus

The identification of T- and B-cell sites recognized frequently by human populations could provide the basis for selecting the candidate T- and B-cell epitopes for the development of an effective synthetic vaccine against rubella. Rubella virus E1 glycoprotein has been shown to be the predominant antigen to which the majority of human populations develop lymphocyte proliferative and antibody responses. To define the T- and B-cell epitopes of E1 glycoprotein of rubella virus, 23 overlapping synthetic peptides corresponding to more than 90% of the amino acid sequence of E1 were synthesized and tested for their capacities to induce proliferative and antibody responses of 10 seropositive individuals. The most frequently recognized T-cell epitopes were EP19 (residues 324–343), with 7 of 10 responders, and both EP12 (residues 207–226) and EP17 (residues 289–308), with 6 of 10 responders, respectively. Two immunodominant linear B-cell epitopes were mapped to residues 157 to 176 (EP9, 8/10) and 374 to 390 (EP22, 6/10) by using peptide-specific enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.     

Localization of the virus neutralizing and hemagglutinin epitopes of E1 glycoprotein of rubella virus.

Current serological assays using whole rubella virus (RV) as a target antigen for detecting RV-specific antibodies fail to define specific RV proteins and antigenic determinants such as hemagglutinin (HA) and virus-neutralizing (VN) epitopes of rubella virus. A panel of E1 deletion mutants and a subset of E1-specific monoclonal antibodies (MAb) were used for the initial analysis of HA and VN epitopes of E1 glycoprotein. A peptide region (E1(193) to E1(269)) was found to contain HA and VN epitopes. Using both overlapping synthetic peptides and truncated fusion proteins within this region, the HA epitope defined by MAb 3D9F mapped to amino acid residues E1(214) to E1(240), while two VN epitopes defined by MAb 21B9H and MAb 16A10E mapped to amino acid residues E1(214) to E1(233) and E1(219) to E1(233), respectively. The epitopes defined in this study are recognized by antibody whether or not the epitopes are glycosylated.     

Immunological characterisation of the rubella E 1 glycoprotein

Summary Three epitopes have been identified on rubella virion envelope polypeptide E 1 using monoclonal antibodies. Antibodies to two of the epitopes, E 1_EP1 and E 1_EP2, show both haemagglutination inhibition and neutralization activities whereas antibodies to the remaining epitope, E 1_EP3, show neutralizing activity only.With 2 Figures     

Molecular cloning and sequencing of the Mexico isolate of hepatitis E virus (HEV).

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the major causative agent of hepatitis E or what was formerly known as enterically transmitted non-A, non-B hepatitis. The disease has a worldwide distribution but occurs principally in developing countries in any of three forms: large epidemics, smaller outbreaks, or sporadic infections. Genetic variation of different HEV strains was previously noted and it will be important to determine the extent to which this variation may pose problems in the diagnosis and treatment of HEV infection. To analyze differences at the genetic level between HEV(Mexico; M) and the previously characterized HEV(Burma; B) and HEV(Pakistan; P) isolates, overlapping cDNAs were cloned from samples obtained from an infected human and an experimentally inoculated cynomolgus macaque. These cDNA clones, representing the nearly complete (7185-bp) genome of HEV(M), confirmed an expression strategy for the virus that involves the use of 3 forward open reading frames (ORFs). The HEV(M) strain has an overall 76 and 77% nucleic acid identity with the HEV(B) strain and HEV(P) strain, respectively; however, the degree of sequence variation was not uniform throughout the viral genome. A hypervariable region was identified in ORF1 that exhibited a 58 and 54% nucleic acid sequence and 13% amino acid similarity with the Burma strain and the Pakistan strain, respectively. A large number of the nucleotide differences occurred at the third codon position, with the deduced amino acid sequences similarity of 83, 93, and 87% between HEV(M) and HEV(B) isolates in ORF1, ORF2, and ORF3, respectively, and with 84, 93, and 87% amino acid identities between HEV(M) and HEV(P) isolates in ORF1, ORF2, and ORF3, respectively. The nucleotide sequences derived from the highly conserved regions of HEV genome will be useful in developing polymerase chain reaction-based tests to confirm the viral infection. Knowledge of the extent of the sequence variation encountered with HEV will not only aid in the future development of diagnostic and vaccine reagents but also further our understanding of how HEV strain variation might impact the pathological outcome of infection.     

风疹病毒JR23株糖蛋白E1在毕赤酵母表达系统中的表达和抗原性分析

目的在毕赤酵母表达系统中表达风疹病毒(rubella virus，RV)JR23株包膜糖蛋白E1，为研究E1蛋白的结构功能、开发基因工程疫苗和重组蛋白诊断试剂盒奠定基础。方法E1基因的表达质粒pGAPZαa-E1经AVRⅡ线性化后用LiCl法转化酵母菌，在YPD(含100μg／ml Zeocin^TM)平板上两次筛选，挑出单菌落，于液体YPD中培养，并在不同时间收集培养物，用SDS-PAGE和Western blot进行分析。结果SDS-PAGE显示E1重组蛋白在毕赤酵母中高效稳定表达，在48h时表达量达到最高，之后趋于稳定，上清和细胞中均有蛋白表达。Western blot结果表明，上清中的E1重组蛋白能够分别与抗RV的阳性血清和单克隆抗体反应，而细胞中的E1重组蛋白只能与抗RV的阳性血清反应，不能与单克隆抗体反应。这说明所表达的蛋白一部分在信号肽的引导下分泌出胞，并经过折叠形成了正确的构像，能够与单克隆抗体结合；而另一部分由于蛋白本身的跨膜区连在了细胞膜上没有分泌出去，没有形成能够被单抗识别的构像，不能与单抗结合。结论E1包膜糖蛋白在酵母菌中成功表达，且免疫反应性良好。     

Definition of three minimal T helper cell epitopes of rubella virus E1 glycoprotein

To characterize T cell-recognized epitopes on rubella virus (RV) E1 glycoprotein, IL-2-dependent RV-specific T cell lines were established from 14 rubella-seropositive healthy donors. The responses of these lines were studied by using a panel of 94 partially overlapping synthetic peptides of 15 amino acids (aa) length covering the known nucleotide sequence of RVE1 glycoprotein. Two to seven peptide-defined epitopes were recognized by the T cell lines, but a large interindividual variation was found. T cell reactivity was most often localized to the regions between aa 276 and 290, aa 381 and 395 and aa 410 and 420. Analysis of overlapping, truncated peptides revealed three minimal T helper cell epitopes VIGSQARK, KFVTAALLN and RVIDPAAQ in aa positions 280–287, 385–393 and 412–419, respectively.     

E1 glycoprotein of rubella virus carries an epitope that binds a neutralizing antibody

We identified by immunoprecipitation and Western blot analysis, using a monoclonal antibody that neutralizes rubella virus, that E1 glycoprotein carries an epitope linked with neutralization. Glycosidase treatment of virus does not prevent blotting of this monoclonal antibody with the E1 glycoprotein, dissociating this epitope from the hemagglutination epitope which is linked with the oligosaccharide side chains. We also investigated by Western blot analysis human serum reactivity toward E1 glycoprotein and the two other structural proteins of rubella virus, E2 and C: all positive sera detected E1 and C, irrespective of their titers, indicating the importance of glycoprotein E1 in immunity. Frequent lack of reactivity against E2 might suggest that this glycoprotein is either less exposed or less immunogenic.     

Neutralizing monoclonal antibody to the E1 glycoprotein epitope of rubella virus mediates virus arrest in VERO cells

The best-known mechanism of action of antibody-mediated virus neutralization is to impede the entrance of viruses to host cells, as determined by neutralization assays. Antibodies may also inhibit the exit of rubella virus (RV) from infected host cells; in this case, the interaction of the antibodies with their domains must occur on the plasma membrane, because antibodies cannot enter the cells. In the present study, we were able to block temporally the exit of virions from RV-infected cells by the binding of monoclonal antibody (mAb) H3 to their surface. The objective was accomplished in three steps: first, we determined the duration of the viral replication cycle; then we established the kinetics of the presence of the domains defined by our mAbs in the cytoplasm of RV-infected VERO cells; and, finally, we assessed the release of viral particles to the supernatant of infected VERO cells in the presence or absence of mAbs or positive and negative mice sera. RV-specific mice sera and mAb H3, which binds to the amino acid sequence 208-239 of the RV-E1 glycoprotein, were able to delay for 24 hours the release of virions from infected cultures, suggesting that the reaction of mAb H3 with its epitope may arrest any change necessary for the assembly and/or release of virions. In conclusion, the neutralizing domain recognized by mAb induces antibodies that can block the viral replication by several mechanisms of action, such as the obstruction of virus entry into cells and the delay of viral release. All of these mechanisms are intimately involved in the critical virus-host cell interactions that allow self-limitation of the infection.     

The influence of N-linked glycosylation on the antigenicity and immunogenicity of rubella virus E1 glycoprotein.

Rubella virus E1 glycoprotein contains three functional N-linked glycosylation sites. The role of N-linked glycosylation on the antigenicity and immunogenicity of E1 glycoprotein was studied using vaccinia recombinants expressing E1 glycosylation mutants. Expressed E1 glycosylation mutant proteins were recognized by a panel of E1-specific monoclonal antibodies in radioimmunoprecipitation, immunofluorescence, and immunoblotting, indicating that carbohydrate side chains on E1 are not involved in the constitution of epitopes recognized by these monoclonal antibodies. This observation was further supported by the fact that removal of oligosaccharides on E1 by glycosidase digestion did not significantly change the antigenicity of E1. All the glycosylation mutants were capable of eliciting anti-RV E1 antibodies. The single glycosylation mutants (G1, G2, and G3), but not the double mutant (G23) or the triple mutant (G123), were found to be capable of inducing virus neutralizing antibodies. Among the single glycosylation mutants, only G2 and G3 were active in producing hemagglutination inhibition antibodies in mice. Our findings suggest that although carbohydrate on E1 is not directly involved in the antigenic structures of E1, it is important in maintaining proper protein folding and stable conformation for expression of immunological epitopes on E1.     

Molecular cloning and sequencing of the La Crosse virus S RNA

The neutralization of type 1 poliovirus by a monoclonal antibody was studied. The antibody caused polymerization of the virions as observed by sucrose gradient centrifugation and electron microscopy. Dimers, trimers, and higher polymers were formed. No antibody was found in association with the monomeric virions remaining after neutralization, which retained full infectivity. The specific infectivities of dimers, trimers, and higher polymers decreased in that order.     

Use of rubella virus E1 fusion proteins for detection of rubella virus antibodies.

Two glutathione S-transferase fusion proteins containing 44 (p1503) and 75 (p1509) amino acid residues of the rubella virus E1 glycoprotein were expressed in Escherichia coli with the aim of producing a recombinant rubella virus antigen for use in serological assays. p1503 contained three neutralizing and hemagglutinating epitopes (G. M. Terry, L. M. Ho-Terry, P. Londesborough, and K. R. Rees, Arch. Virol. 98:189-197, 1988); p1509 contained the putative neutralization domain described by Mitchell et al. (L. A. Mitchell, T. Zhang, M. Ho, D. Decarie, A. Tingle, M. Zrein, and M. Lacroix, J. Clin. Microbiol. 30:1841-1847, 1992) in addition to the three epitopes present in p1503. Both fusion proteins were soluble and affinity purified on glutathione-Sepharose 4B. In Western blots (immunoblots), p1503 and p1509 reacted with human sera containing rubella virus-specific immunoglobulin G. When used as antigens in indirect enzyme immunoassays to detect rubella virus-specific immunoglobulin G, p1503 correctly identified the rubella virus antibody status of 43 (76.8%) and p1509 correctly identified that of 48 (85.7%) of 56 serum samples received for routine rubella virus antibody screening. The results obtained with p1509 compare well with those obtained with a latex agglutination assay.     

风疹病毒JR23株E1包膜糖蛋白的基因克隆与序列分析

目的：建立风疹病毒包膜糖蛋白E1的克隆载体，研究E1基因变异情况，并对其序列进行系统发生树分析。方法：利用RT－PCR方法扩增并回收风疹病毒JR23株的包膜糖蛋白E1的基因片段，将其与PMD－18T载体连接，经氨苄青霉素筛选，酶切鉴定，以获得风疹病毒E1蛋白基因的克隆，将此基因测序后，利用DNASTAR和WINSTAR软件包绘制系统发生树进行序列之间的比较分析。结果：筛选出含有风疹病毒E1蛋白基因的克隆，序列分析及发生树的绘制表明：JR23株与日本TCRB株及英国THOMAS株差别最小，分别为0．9％和1．2％，与北京BRD2株及香港XG379株差别最大，分别为7．6％和7．3％，与其它各株的差别均小于3％（除NC株为3．7％外），系统发生也与THO－MAS株、TCRB株最近，与BRD2株最远。结论：克隆载体的建立为进一步研究E1基因与糖蛋白功能的关系提供基础。系统发生表明中国不同地区风疹流行株基因序列存在明显差异，这对风疹病毒遗传与变异，分子流行病学研究，以及制备有效的亚单位疫苗提供了资料。     

Molecular cloning and nucleotide sequence of the genome of hog cholera virus

A cDNA clone derived from genomic RNA of hog cholera virus (HCV) was identified using an oligonucleotide complementary to the RNA encoding a hexapeptide from the putative RNA-dependent RNA polymerase of the closely related bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV). This clone served as a probe for screening different size-selected cDNA libraries. After molecular cloning and nucleotide sequencing the HCV genome was shown to consist of 12,284 nucleotides containing one long open reading frame. Sequence comparison revealed a high degree of homology between HCV and BVDV genomic RNAs. With respect to HCV the genome of BVDV contains an insertion coding for 90 amino acids.     

Molecular cloning and complete nucleotide sequence of the genome of Japanese encephalitis virus Beijing-1 strain

The genomic RNA of the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) Beijing-1 strain was reversely transcribed and the synthesized cDNA was molecularly cloned. Six continuous cDNA clones that cover the entire virus genome were established and sequenced to determine the complete nucleotide sequence of the JEV RNA. The precise genomic size was estimated as 10,965 bases long. With flanking 95 bases at the 5 and 583 bases at the 3 non-coding regions, one long open reading frame (ORF) was revealed encoding a virus polyprotein with 3,429 amino acid residues. Because of sequence homologies observed between JEV and other flaviviruses, the genome organization of JEV appears to be identical with other flaviviruses. Genetic variation detected among flavivirus genomes is consistent with the established serological relatedness between JEV and other members of flaviviruses. The secondary structure of the JEV genome is deduced and discussed concerning its involvement in genome replication.     

大肠杆菌突变的thyA基因的克隆及序列分析

目的 研究ｔｈｙＡ基因天然缺陷菌株ｔｈｙＡ＊基因的改变。方法 用ＰＣＲ插入法将ｔｈｙＡ＊基因克隆到ｐＵＣ１８上,进行序列测定及分析。结果 突变的ｔｈｙＡ基因其第１３１位碱基Ｔ突变为碱基Ａ。结论 ｔｈｙＡ基因缺陷的大肠杆菌的ｔｈｙＡ基因第１３１位碱基Ｔ突变为碱基Ａ,是导致该基因功能丧失的直接原因。     

Molecular cloning and physical and translational mapping of the frog virus 3 genome

A library of cloned fragments representing nearly the entire frog virus 3 (FV 3) genome (99.65%) has been constituted. Individual plasmid recombinants, labeled by nick-translation, were hybridized to Southern blots of genomic FV 3 DNA fragments obtained with XbaI, HindIII, SmaI, and SalI. From these results physical maps were generated and the distribution of restriction sites in the genome was established by double digestion of the fragments. A preliminary translational map was likewise developed. The viral messages were selected by hybridization to the recombinant DNAs immobilized on nitrocellulose filters and were translated in the reticulocyte cell-free system. About 30 polypeptides were detected among the translation products of RNA synthesized in the presence of cycloheximide. It appears that these genes are not clustered but in several cases more than one polypeptide is encoded by a given fragment. The 15 new polypeptide obtained by translation of late mRNAs derive from genes located on one-half of the genome.