Identification of a New Broadly Cross-reactive Epitope within Domain III of the Duck Tembusu Virus E Protein.

ABSTRACT: In 2010, a pathogenic flavivirus termed duck Tembusu virus (DTMUV) caused widespread outbreak of egg-drop syndrome in domesticated ducks in China. Although the glycoprotein E of DTMUV is an important structural component of the virus, the B-cell epitopes of this protein remains uncharacterized. Using phage display and mutagenesis, we identified a minimal B-cell epitope, ³⁷⁴EXE/DPPFG³⁸⁰, that mediates binding to a nonneutralizing monoclonal antibody. DTMUV-positive duck serum reacted with the epitope, and amino acid substitutions revealed the specific amino acids that are essential for antibody binding. Dot-blot assays of various flavivirus-positive sera indicated that EXE/DPPFG is a cross-reactive epitope in most flaviviruses, including Zika, West Nile, Yellow fever,

SUBMITTER: Li C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5099753 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature