Identification of novel linear epitopes in P72 protein of African swine fever virus recognized by monoclonal antibodies

Abstract

African swine fever (ASF) is one of the highly contagious and lethal diseases among domestic pigs and wild boars. The capsid protein P72 of African swine fever virus (ASFV) is very important for the diagnosis and vaccine development. However, the epitope of the protein is not clear. In this study, capsid protein P72 was expressed in Sf9 cells along with its chaperone B602L. A total of ten monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) specific to P72 protein were developed by fusions between SP2/0 cells and spleen cells of mice immunized with the recombinant-P72&B602L proteins expressed in Sf9 cells. Four linear B cell epitopes 31SNIKNVNKSY40, 41GKPDP45, 56HLVHFNAH63 and 185ERLYE189 were identified. Biological information analysis illustrated that epitopes 31SNIKNVNKSY40, 41GKPDP45 and 185ERLYE189 were highly conserved within different ASFV strains. These findings may lead to a better understanding of the antibody-antigen interaction and provide new insights into the vaccine research and serological diagnosis of ASF.

Identification of p72 epitopes of African swine fever virus and preliminary application

“…Seven linear B cell epitopes (epitopes 1-7) were identified using the 17 mAbs obtained. Epitope 4 ( 158 VDPFGRPIV 166 ) recognized by mAb 2C9D6, epitope 6 ( 271 TNPKFLSQHF 280 ) recognized by mAbs 2B8F7 and 2B8B9, and epitope 3 ( 281 PENSHNIQTA 290 ) recognized by mAbs 6D6D9, 2B7B6, 5C9E3, 5C9D6, and 2B8D7 were similar to the study by Heimerman et al ( 156 Yin et al (2022).…”

“…The neutralization test performed to evaluate the neutralization potency of these seven classes of mAbs did not show significant neutralization activity. Furthermore, four mAbs that recognize four linear epitopes also have no neutralizing ability in the study by Yin et al (2022). But, in the study of Borca et al (1994), mAb 135D4 that is identified to recognize the conformational epitope on p72 has partially neutralized activity.…”

“…However, few studies have addressed p72 epitopes. Eight linear B cell epitopes (Heimerman et al, 2018;Yin et al, 2022) and a single conformational neutralizing epitope (Borca et al, 1994) have been identified for p72.…”

Sequencing p72 gene of field strain of African swine fever virus (ASFV) in Vietnam and generation of enhanced immunogenic fusion protein G-p72 potentially expressed as a recombinant antigen in ASFV subunit vaccine

“…The protein p72 is considered to be the primary and highly immunogenic antigen in infected pigs (Kollnberger et al, 2002;Miao et al, 2023). Additionally, studies using monoclonal antibodies demonstrated that p72 contains a variety of neutralizing epitopes that could be utilized to develop vaccines or other control strategies against virulent ASFV isolates (Yin et al, 2022;Miao et al, 2023).…”

Characterization ofB646L(p72) gene and the resistance pattern of African swine fever Virus tolerant to indigenous Doom Pig breeds of India

“…African Swine Fever (ASF) virus (ASFV), the causative agent of ASF is a large, enveloped, icosahedral, double-stranded DNA virus which belongs to the genus Asfvirus, family Asfaviridae and order Asfuvirales (1). Current investigation indicates that capsid protein P72 of ASFV is very important for the diagnosis and future vaccine development (2). As the ASFV continues to spread to pig populations globally different protection and antiviral agents are being developed to combat the virus.…”