Abstract
Guertu virus (GTV) is a tick-borne phleboviruses (TBPVs) which belongs to the genus Banyangvirus in the family of Phenuiviridae. In vitro and in vivo studies of GTV demonstrated that it was able to infect animal and human cell lines and could cause pathological lesions in mice. Glycoproteins (GP, including Gn and Gc) on the surface of Guertu virus (GTV) could bind to receptors on host cells and induce protective immunity in the host, but knowledge is now lacking on the information of B cell epitopes (BCEs) present on GTV-GP protein. The aim of this study was to identify all BCEs on Gn of the GTV DXM strain using rabbit pAbs against GTV-Gn. Seven fine BCEs and two antigenic peptides (APs) from nine reactive 16mer-peptides were identified, which are EGn1 (2PIICEGLTHS11), EGn2 (135CSQDSGT141), EGn3 (165IP EDVF170), EGn4 (169VFQEL K174), EGn5 (187IDGILFN193), EGn6 (223QTKWIQ228), EGn7 (237CHKDGIGPC245), AP-8 (299GVRVRPKCYGFSRMMA314) and AP-9 (355CASH FCSSAESGKKNT370), of which six of mapped BCEs were recognized by the IgG-positive sheep serum obtained from sheep GTV-infected naturally. Multiple sequence alignments (MSA) based on each mapped BCE motif identified that the most of identified BCEs and APs are highly conserved among 10 SFTSV strains from different countries and lineages that share relatively close evolutionary relationships with GTV. The fine epitope mapping of the GTV-Gn would provide basic data with which to explore the GTV-Gn antigen structure and pathogenic mechanisms, and it could lay the foundation for the design and development of a GTV multi-epitope peptide vaccine and detection antigen.
Highlights
Emerging pathogenic tick-borne viruses (TBVs) that can infect animals and humans have attracted much attention because of the increasing incidence of tick-borne viral diseases (TBVDs) and their significant impact on human health [1,2,3]
Compared to the glycosylation sites (12NKSA15 and 42NHSQ45) of the GP N-terminal (Gn) from severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) HB29 strain, analysis of glycosylation sites of Guertu virus (GTV)-Gn in this study showed two N-glycosylation sites (12NKSA15 and 42NHTQ45)
The key residue responsible for hydrogen bonds and salt bridges with an antibody is conserved in GTV- and SFTSV-Gn proteins, suggesting that GTV-Gn is likely to be recognized by the antibody derived from SFTSV [9]
Summary
Emerging pathogenic tick-borne viruses (TBVs) that can infect animals and humans have attracted much attention because of the increasing incidence of tick-borne viral diseases (TBVDs) and their significant impact on human health [1,2,3]. Fine epitope mapping of Gn in GTV. Laboratory of Virology of China (No 2018IOV004 to FD). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
