Detection of enterovirus‐specific total and polymeric IgA antibodies in serum using a synthetic peptide or heated virion antigen in ELISA

Abstract

The presence of enterovirus-specific total and polymeric IgA antibodies was assessed in serum from different groups of patients and healthy controls by indirect ELISA using heated virions and synthetic peptide, both enteroviral broad reactive antigens. Total IgA antibody response against a synthetic peptide, representing an enterovirus group-common epitope, was detected in 52% of the patients with an acute enterovirus infection and in 12% of the patients with other infections (P = 0.02). We also found a significant difference (P = 0.005) in the prevalence of peptide IgA antibodies between serum samples collected from blood donors during summer (20%), the prevalent season of enterovirus infections, and winter (6%). A polymeric IgA activity against the peptide was detected in only three patients with an enterovirus infection. In contrast, when a heated coxsackie B5 (coxB5) virus antigen was used, the prevalence of total serum IgA antibodies was not significantly different between patients with an acute enterovirus infection and patients with other infections (71% vs. 53% respectively; P = 0.3). Also no difference was found between the two groups of blood donors (47% in summer vs. 51% in winter; P = 0.7). However, the prevalence of serum polymeric IgA antibodies against coxsackie B5 antigen was significantly greater (P = 0.02) in patients with an acute enterovirus infection (57%) than in patients with other infections (18%). These findings suggest that the presence (18%). These findings suggest that the presence of total peptide-IgA or of polymeric coxsackie B5-IgA in serum is a specific marker of acute enterovirus infection. Finally, we show that the total peptide-IgA- and polymeric coxsackie B5-ELISAs may have a diagnostic value for the serodiagnosis of enterovirus infections when they are used in combination with enteroviral IgG-ELISA.

Human milk can neutralize Coxsackievirus B4 in vitro

“…Levels of immunoglobulin classes in serum and breast milk have typically been evaluated by the Mancini radial immunodiffusion method [Araujo et al, 2005]. Antiviral antibodies are also tested by enzyme immunoassay on solid phase (EIA) systems using purified enterovirus (CVB4, echovirus 11) as antigen and an antigenic peptide synthesized from the enteroviral VP1 protein sequence, which is a common epitope to most enteroviruses [Cello and Svennerholm, 1994; Lonnrot et al, 2000; Sadeharju et al, 2007].…”

Isolation of enterovirus strains from children with preclinical Type 1 diabetes

“…This probably reflects the fact that the high number of enterovirus serotypes (more than 60 altogether) makes it difficult to detect them all by serological assays. We used a relatively wide panel of antigens, which were made as broadly reactive as possible by heat treatment [30,31], and different immunoglobulin isotypes and neutralizing antibodies were also measured, but still we were not able to detect all infections by antibody determinations. It is also important to note that enterovirus RNA was only occasionally detected in serum, even in such children who were enterovirus positive in stools at the time of the serum sample.…”

Diagnostic and immunoprophylactic applications of synthetic peptides in veterinary microbiology

“…52 A peptidebased ELISA was developed for sero-diagnosis of enterovirus infections in humans. 53 A cluster of immunodominant epitopes in the C-terminus of viral structural capsid protein or tegument protein (VCAp18) of the Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), when combined into a single synthetic peptide, demonstrated a greater potential for diagnosis in ELISA. 54 Synthetic peptides derived from the surface glycoprotein gp90 of the equine infectious anemia virus, 55 the attachment protein G of RSV, 56 hepatitis C virus, 57 bovine leukemia virus, 58 N protein of PPRV, 28 and VP2 and VP3 proteins of IBDV 18,39 have all been used as antigens in various EIA for sero-diagnosis.…”