Enterovirus 71 viral capsid protein linear epitopes: Identification and characterization

A series of 256 peptides spanning the capsid proteins (VP1, VP2, VP3) of BJ08 strain (genomic C4) were synthesized. An indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was carried out to detect anti-EV71 IgM and IgG in sera of infected children in acute or recovery phase. The partially overlapped peptides contained 12 amino acids and were coated in the plate as antigen (0.1 μg/μl). Sera from rabbits immunized with inactivated BJ08 virus were also used to screen the peptide panel.A total of 10 human anti-EV71 IgM epitopes (vp1-14 in VP1; vp2-6, 21, 40 and 50 in VP2 and vp3-10, 12, 15, 24 and 75 in VP3) were identified in acute phase sera. In contrast, only one anti-EV71 IgG epitope in VP1 (vp1-15) was identified in sera of recovery stage. Four rabbit anti-EV71 IgG epitopes (vp1-14, 31, 54 and 71) were identified and mapped to VP1.These data suggested that human IgM epitopes were mainly mapped to VP2 and VP3 with multi-epitope responses occurred at acute infection, while the only IgG epitope located on protein VP1 was activated in recovery phase sera. The dynamic changes of humoral immune response at different stages of infection may have public health significance in evaluation of EV71 vaccine immunogenicity and the clinical application of diagnostic reagents.Human enterovirus 71 (EV71) is one of the major causative pathogens for human hand foot and mouth disease (HFMD). EV71 was first isolated in California in 1969. HFMD is common infectious disease frequently occurring in infants and children. Although it usually has no life threatening, the most severe neurological disease caused by EV71 may cause death. Therefore, EV71 is widely considered as one of the most important virulent neurotropic enteroviruses after the eradication of poliomyelitis [1].During the last decade, outbreaks of HFMD have occurred worldwide and the incidence rate was significantly increased throughout the Asia-Pacific region [2-8]. The continuing increased HFMD epidemics in China over the las