Epitope mapping of sindbis virus neutralization

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EPITOPE MAPPING OF SINDBIS VIRUS NEUTRALIZATION Westarp M.E., Stanley J., Griffin D.E. The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions Baltimore Md 21205

A neuroadapted strain of Sindbis Virus (NSV) causes fatal encephalitis in weanling

mice.

intracerebral monoclonal

It

has

inoculation antibodies

non-neutralizing

been

shown

that

can

protect

from

has

MAbs to the

shown E1 and

that

antibody fatal

given

disease.

after

Study

of

well

as

glycoprotein

are

neutralizing

E2 envelope

24h

as

protective. We have used protective and neutralizing MAb's and antipeptide antisera prepared

in rabbits to study the functional

site

and mechanism

of

neutralization of this encephalitogenic virus.

With this panel of sera we characterized functional domains on the virus envelope that are associated with antibody binding to virus and infected cells and/or interfere with adsorption, penetration,

uncoating and viral

replication.

Glycoprotein E2 peptides of 14-16 aa length were synthesized by Dr. Clark Riley.