Equine rhinitis A virus: structural proteins and immune response (original) (raw)

Sequence Conservation and Antigenic Variation of the Structural Proteins of Equine Rhinitis A Virus

Journal of Virology, 2001

The nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences of the P1 region of the genomes of 10 independent equine rhinitis A virus (ERAV) isolates were determined and found to be very closely related. A panel of seven monoclonal antibodies to the prototype virus ERAV.393/76 that bound to nonneutralization epitopes conserved among all 10 isolates was raised. In serum neutralization assays, rabbit polyclonal sera and sera from naturally and experimentally infected horses reacted in a consistent and discriminating manner with the 10 isolates, which indicated the existence of variation in the neutralization epitopes of these viruses.

Several Recombinant Capsid Proteins of Equine Rhinitis A Virus Show Potential as Diagnostic Antigens

Clinical and Vaccine Immunology, 2005

. Despite these facts, knowledge of the prevalence and importance of ERAV infections remains limited, largely due to the absence of a simple, robust diagnostic assay. In this study, we compared the antigenicities of recombinant full-length and fragmented ERAV capsid proteins expressed in Escherichia coli by using sera from experimentally infected and naturally exposed horses. We found that, from the range of antigens tested, recombinant proteins encompassing the C-terminal region of VP1, full-length VP2, and the N-terminal region of VP2 reacted specifically with antibodies present in sera from each of the five experimentally infected horses examined. Antibodies to epitopes on VP2 (both native and recombinant forms) persisted longer postinfection (>105 days) than antibodies specific for epitopes on other fragments. Our data also suggest that B-cell epitopes within the C terminus of VP1 and N terminus of VP2 contribute to a large proportion of the total reactivity of recombinant VP1 and VP2, respectively. Importantly, the reactivity of these VP1 and VP2 recombinant proteins in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) correlated well with the results from a range of native antigen-based serological assays using sera from 12 field horses. This study provides promising candidates for development of a diagnostic ERAV ELISA.

Model of the equine rhinitis A virus capsid: identification of a major neutralizing immunogenic site

Journal of General Virology, 2003

Mouse monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) were employed to select neutralization escape mutants of equine rhinitis A virus (ERAV). Amino acid changes in the ERAV mutants resulting in resistance to neutralization were identified in capsid protein VP1 at Lys-114, Pro-240 and Thr-241. Although the changes were located in different parts of the polypeptide chain, these mutants exhibited cross-resistance against all four mAbs employed, indicating that these residues contribute to a single immunogenic site. To explain this result, we constructed a model of the three-dimensional structure of the ERAV capsid based on comparison with the closely related foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV O 1 ). According to this model, VP1 is folded so that Lys-114 is in the bE-bF loop of the polypeptide chain at a considerable distance from Pro-240 and Trp-241 in the C-terminal region. However, around the fivefold axis of symmetry, the C terminus of VP1 in each protomer extends to the bE-bF loop of the adjacent VP1 in the next protomer. We therefore propose that the immunogenic site in ERAV is formed as a result of the close proximity of the Lys-114 residue in the bE-bF loop of one VP1 molecule and of the Pro-240/Thr-241 residues in the adjacent VP1 polypeptide chain. In terms of the overall architecture of the viral capsid structure, this site in ERAV most closely resembles the immunogenic site 1 of FMDV O 1 .

Mapping epitopes in equine rhinitis A virus VP1 recognized by antibodies elicited in response to infection of the natural host

Journal of General Virology, 2003

is an important respiratory pathogen of horses and is of additional interest because of its close relationship and common classification with foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV). As is the case with FMDV, the VP1 capsid protein of ERAV has been shown to be a target of neutralizing antibodies. In FMDV VP1, such antibodies commonly recognize linear epitopes present in the bG-bH loop region. To map linear B cell epitopes in ERAV VP1, overlapping fragments spanning its length were expressed in Escherichia coli as glutathione S-transferase (GST) fusion proteins. These fusion proteins were tested for reactivity with sera from ERAV-infected horses and with polyclonal sera from ERAV-immunized rabbits and mice. Regions at the N-and C-termini as well as the bE-bF and the bG-bH loop regions contained B cell epitopes that elicited antibodies in the natural host. GST fusion proteins of these regions also elicited antibodies following immunization of rabbits and mice, which, in general, strongly recognized native ERAV VP1 but which were non-neutralizing. It is concluded that the N-terminal region of ERAV VP1, in particular, contains strong B cell epitopes.

Aggregation-associated loss of antigenicity observed for denatured virion protein 1 of Equine rhinitis A virus in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

Virus Research, 2009

Equine rhinitis A virus (ERAV) is a picornavirus which causes an acute respiratory infection in horses worldwide, and virus neutralization (VN) has been the standard method for the detection of ERAV antibody in horse serum. Previous studies have identified recombinant virion protein VP1 (rVP1) purified under native conditions to be of high potential for the development of a diagnostic ERAV enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). This study presents an optimized protocol for the expression and purification of native full-length rVP1. Furthermore, we demonstrate that, upon denaturation, rVP1 no longer reacts to ERAV antibody in a prototype ELISA. Size exclusion chromatography (SEC) performed on native and denatured rVP1 indicates that denatured rVP1 forms multimeric aggregates that may causally connect to the loss of antigenicity observed in the ELISA.

Identification of a neutralizing epitope in the E- F loop of VP1 of equine rhinitis A virus, defined by a neutralization-resistant variant

Journal of General Virology, 2004

Equine rhinitis A virus strain 393/76 (ERAV.393/76) was passaged in the presence of post-infection ERAV.393/76 equine polyclonal antiserum (EPA). Viruses with increased resistance to neutralization by EPA were obtained after 15 passages. Compared with the parent virus, five plaque-purified, neutralization-resistant mutant viruses, in addition to the non-plaque-purified viruses that were examined, had a GluRLys change at position 658, which is located in the predicted bE-bF (EF) loop of VP1. Rabbit antiserum was prepared against the isolated EF loop of ERAV.393/76 VP1 expressed as a fusion protein with glutathione S-transferase. This antiserum bound to purified ERAV.393/76 in Western blots, but not to the neutralization-resistant mutant virus or to ERAV.PERV/62, a naturally occurring ERAV strain that has a Lys residue at position 658. These results suggest that the EF loop of VP1 is involved in a neutralization epitope of ERAV.

Short Communication Mapping epitopes in equine rhinitis A virus VP1 recognized by antibodies elicited in response to infection of the natural host

2000

is an important respiratory pathogen of horses and is of additional interest because of its close relationship and common classification with foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV). As is the case with FMDV, the VP1 capsid protein of ERAV has been shown to be a target of neutralizing antibodies. In FMDV VP1, such antibodies commonly recognize linear epitopes present in the bG-bH loop region. To map linear B cell epitopes in ERAV VP1, overlapping fragments spanning its length were expressed in Escherichia coli as glutathione S-transferase (GST) fusion proteins. These fusion proteins were tested for reactivity with sera from ERAV-infected horses and with polyclonal sera from ERAV-immunized rabbits and mice. Regions at the N-and C-termini as well as the bE-bF and the bG-bH loop regions contained B cell epitopes that elicited antibodies in the natural host. GST fusion proteins of these regions also elicited antibodies following immunization of rabbits and mice, which, in general, strongly recognized native ERAV VP1 but which were non-neutralizing. It is concluded that the N-terminal region of ERAV VP1, in particular, contains strong B cell epitopes.