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Open Access 01-12-2012 | Research

West Nile virus: characterization and diagnostic applications of monoclonal antibodies

Authors: Davide Lelli, Ana Moreno, Emiliana Brocchi, Enrica Sozzi, Lorenzo Capucci, Elena Canelli, Ilaria Barbieri, Herve Zeller, Paolo Cordioli

Published in: Virology Journal | Issue 1/2012

Abstract

Background

Diagnosis of West Nile virus (WNV) infections is often difficult due to the extensive antigenic cross-reactivity among flaviviruses, especially in geographic regions where two or more of these viruses are present causing sequential infections. The purpose of this study was to characterize a panel of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) produced against WNV to verify their applicability in WNV diagnosis and in mapping epitope targets of neutralizing MAbs.

Methods

Six MAbs were produced and characterized by isotyping, virus-neutralization, western blotting and MAb-epitope competition. The MAb reactivity against various WNVs belonging to lineage 1 and 2 and other related flaviviruses was also evaluated. The molecular basis of epitopes recognized by neutralizing MAbs was defined through the selection and sequencing of MAb escape mutants. Competitive binding assays between MAbs and experimental equine and chicken sera were designed to identify specific MAb reaction to epitopes with high immunogenicity.

Results

All MAbs showed stronger reactivity with all WNVs tested and good competition for antigen binding in ELISA tests with WNV-positive equine and chicken sera. Four MAbs (3B2, 3D6, 4D3, 1C3) resulted specific for WNV, while two MAbs (2A8, 4G9) showed cross-reaction with Usutu virus. Three MAbs (3B2, 3D6, 4D3) showed neutralizing activity. Sequence analysis of 3B2 and 3D6 escape mutants showed an amino acid change at E307 (Lys → Glu) in the E protein gene, whereas 4D3 variants identified mutations encoding amino acid changed at E276 (Ser → Ile) or E278 (Thr → Ile). 3B2 and 3D6 mapped to a region on the lateral surface of domain III of E protein, which is known to be a specific and strong neutralizing epitope for WNV, while MAb 4D3 recognized a novel specific neutralizing epitope on domain II of E protein that has not previously been described with WNV MAbs.

Conclusions

MAbs generated in this study can be applied to various analytical methods for virological and serological WNV diagnosis. A novel WNV-specific and neutralizing MAb (4D3) directed against the unknown epitope on domain II of E protein can be useful to better understand the role of E protein epitopes involved in the mechanism of WNV neutralization.

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Title: West Nile virus: characterization and diagnostic applications of monoclonal antibodies
Authors: Davide Lelli
Ana Moreno
Emiliana Brocchi
Enrica Sozzi
Lorenzo Capucci
Elena Canelli
Ilaria Barbieri
Herve Zeller
Paolo Cordioli
Publication date: 01-12-2012
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: Virology Journal / Issue 1/2012
Electronic ISSN: 1743-422X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1743-422X-9-81

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