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Identification of a novel neutralization epitope on envelope GP46 antigen of human t‐cell‐leukemia virus‐type‐II (HTLV‐II)
Author(s) -
Tanaka Yuetsu,
Tanaka Reiko,
Hoshino Hiroo
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
international journal of cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.475
H-Index - 234
eISSN - 1097-0215
pISSN - 0020-7136
DOI - 10.1002/ijc.2910590513
Subject(s) - epitope , virology , syncytium , neutralization , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , viral envelope , monoclonal antibody , antigen , antibody , virus , chemistry , immunology
Having observed that multiple neutralization epitopes of human T‐cell‐leukemia‐virus‐type‐l (HTLV‐I) envelope gp46 clustered in a region between amino acids 187 and 199, we speculated that a region of HTLV‐II gp46 corresponding to the HTLV‐I‐neutralization region may contain HTLV‐II‐specific neutralization epitopes. To test this, we immunized a NZW rabbit and BALB/c mice with a synthetic peptide containing the HTLV‐II gp46 amino acids 182 to 199 (pep 182–199) conjugated to OVA. The serum from the rabbit reacted to the HTLV‐II gp46 and neutralized HTLV‐II‐mediated syncytium formation. One monoclonal antibody (MAb), M2E186NI, generated from the BALB/c mice, stained specifically the surface of HTLV‐II‐positive cells and reacted with HTLV‐II gp46 by Western blot. This MAb was of the IgA isotype and inhibited HTLV‐II‐ but not HTLV‐I‐mediated syncytium formation at a final antibody concentration of 200 μ/ml; it also neutralized an HTLV‐II‐VSV pseudotype virus specifically. Epitope mapping by ELISA using overlapping synthetic peptides indicated that the neutralization epitope recognized by the M2E186NI MAb was located between HTLV‐II gp46 amino acids 186 and 192, corresponding to the sequence Leu‐Gln‐His‐Val‐IIe‐Leu‐Gln‐Pro. These new observations will be helpful in developing vaccines against HTLV‐II infection.