Identification of peptide based B-cell epitopes in Zika virus NS1

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2018 Nov 10;505(4):1010-1014. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2018.10.024. Epub 2018 Oct 9.

Abstract

Zika virus (ZIKV), a mosquito-borne flavivirus that has recently emerged globally, poses a major threat to public health. To control this emerging disease, accurate diagnostics are required for monitoring current ZIKV outbreaks. Owing to the high nucleotide sequence similarity and cross-reactivity of ZIKV with other members of the Flaviviridae family, discrimination from other flavivirus infections is often difficult in endemic areas. ZIKV NS1 induces major virus-specific antibodies and is therefore utilized as a serological marker for ZIKV diagnosis. To identify ZIKV specific epitopes for clinical application, 33 NS1 peptides that are 15-30 amino acid in length covering whole NS1 were synthesized and analyzed linear B-cell epitopes with 38 human serum samples (20 ZIKV-positive and 18 ZIKV-negative). As a result of screening, eight epitope regions were identified. In particular, the Z8 and Z14 peptides located in the β-ladder surface region showed higher levels of binding activity in ZIKV-positive sera without cross-reactivity to other flaviviruses. These identified sensitive and specific epitopes provide a tool for design of diagnostics and structure-based vaccine antigens for ZIKV infection.

Keywords: Diagnosis; Epitope; NS1; Peptide; Zika virus.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte / blood
  • Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte / chemistry*
  • Humans
  • Models, Molecular
  • Peptides / analysis*
  • Peptides / chemical synthesis
  • Zika Virus / chemistry*

Substances

  • Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte
  • Peptides