Neutralization epitopes of the F glycoprotein of respiratory syncytial virus: effect of mutation upon fusion function.

Eighteen neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) specific for the fusion glycoprotein of the A2 strain of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) were used to construct a detailed topological and operational map of epitopes involved in neutralization and fusion. Competitive binding assays identified three nonoverlapping antigenic sites (A, B, and C) and one bridge site (AB). Thirteen MAb-resistant mutants (MARMs) were selected, and the neutralization patterns of the MAbs with either MARMs or RSV clinical strains identified a minimum of 16 epitopes. MARMs selected with antibodies to six of the site A and AB epitopes displayed a small-plaque phenotype, which is consistent with an alteration in a biologically active region of the F molecule. Analysis of MARMs also indicated that these neutralization epitopes occupy topographically distinct but conformationally interdependent regions with unique biological and immunological properties. Antigenic variation in F epitopes was examined by using 23 clinical isolates (18 subgroup A and 5 subgroup B) in cross-neutralization assays with the 18 anti-F MAbs. This analysis identified constant, variable, and hypervariable regions on the molecule and indicated that antigenic variation in the neutralization epitopes of the RSV F glycoprotein is the result of a noncumulative genetic heterogeneity. Of the 16 eptiopes, 8 were conserved on all or all but 1 of 23 subgroup A or subgroup B clinical isolates.     

Conserved epitopes on the hemagglutinin-neuraminidase proteins of human and bovine parainfluenza type 3 viruses: nucleotide sequence analysis of variants selected with monoclonal antibodies.

We have previously identified 11 epitopes located in two topologically nonoverlapping antigenic sites (A and B) and a third bridging site (C) on the human type 3 parainfluenza virus (PIV3) hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) glycoprotein by using monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) which inhibit hemagglutination and virus infectivity (K. L. Coelingh, C. C. Winter, and B. R. Murphy, Virology 143:569-582, 1985). We have identified three additional antigenic sites (D, E, and F) on the HN molecule by competitive-binding assays of anti-HN MAbs which have no known biological activity. Epitopes in sites A, D, and F are conserved on the bovine PIV3 HN glycoprotein and also among a wide range of human isolates. The dideoxy method was used to identify nucleotide substitutions in the HN genes of antigenic variants selected with neutralizing MAbs representing epitopes in site A which are shared by human and bovine PIV3. The deduced amino acid substitutions in the variants were located in separate hydrophilic stretches of HN residues which are conserved in the primary structures of the HN proteins of both human and bovine PIV3 strains.     

Identification of amino acids recognized by syncytium-inhibiting and neutralizing monoclonal antibodies to the human parainfluenza type 3 virus fusion protein.

Neutralizing monoclonal antibodies specific for the fusion (F) glycoprotein of human parainfluenza type 3 virus (PIV3) were used to select neutralization-resistant antigenic variants. Sequence analysis of the F genes of the variants indicated that their resistance to antibody binding, antibody-mediated neutralization or to both was a result of specific amino acid substitutions within the neutralization epitopes of the F1 and F2 subunits. Comparison of the locations of PIV3 neutralization epitopes with those of Newcastle disease and Sendai viruses indicated that the antigenic organization of the fusion proteins of paramyxoviruses is similar. Furthermore, some of the PIV3 epitopes recognized by syncytium-inhibiting monoclonal antibodies are located in an F1 cysteine cluster region which corresponds to an area of the measles virus F protein involved in fusion activity.     

Antibody responses of humans and nonhuman primates to individual antigenic sites of the hemagglutinin-neuraminidase and fusion glycoproteins after primary infection or reinfection with parainfluenza type 3 virus.

An unusual feature of human parainfluenza virus type 3 (PIV3) is ita ability to cause reinfection with high efficiency. The antibody responses of 45 humans and 9 rhesus monkeys to primary infection or subsequent reinfection with PIV3 were examined to identify deficiencies in host immunologic responses that might contribute to the ability of the virus to cause reinfection with high frequency. Antibody responses in serum were tested by using neutralization and hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assays and a monoclonal antibody blocking immunoassay able to detect antibodies to epitopes within six antigenic sites on the PIV3 hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) glycoprotein and eight antigenic sites on the fusion (F) protein. Primary infection of seronegative infants or children with PIV3 stimulated strong and rather uniform HI and neutralizing antibody responses. More than 90% of the individuals developed antibodies to four of the six HN antigenic sites (including three of the four neutralization sites), but the responses to F antigenic sites were of lesser magnitude and varied considerably from person to person. Young infants who possessed maternally derived antibodies in their sera developed lower levels and less frequent HI, neutralizing, and antigenic site-specific responses to the HN and F glycoproteins than did seronegative infants and children. In contrast, children reinfected with PIV3 developed even higher HI and neutralizing antibody responses than those observed during primary infection. Reinfection broadened the HN and F antigenic site-specific responses, but the latter remained relatively restricted. Adults possessed lower levels of HI, neutralizing, and antigenic site-specific antibodies in their sera than did children who had been reinfected, suggesting that these antibodies decay with time. Rhesus monkeys developed more vigorous primary and secondary antibody responses than did humans, but even in these highly responsive animals, response to the F glycoprotein was relatively restricted following primary infection. Bovine PIV3 induced a broader response to human PIV3 in monkeys than was anticipated on the basis of their known relatedness as defined by using monoclonal antibodies to human PIV3. These observations suggest that the restricted antibody responses to multiple antigenic sites on the F glycoprotein in young seronegative infants and children and the decreased responses to both the F and HN glycoproteins in young infants and children with maternally derived antibodies may play a role in the susceptibility of human infants and young children to reinfection with PIV3.     

Human monoclonal antibodies specific for conformation-sensitive epitopes of V3 neutralize human immunodeficiency virus type 1 primary isolates from various clades

The epitopes of the V3 domain of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) gp120 glycoprotein have complex structures consisting of linear and conformational antigenic determinants. Anti-V3 antibodies (Abs) recognize both types of elements, but Abs which preferentially react to the conformational aspect of the epitopes may have more potent neutralizing activity against HIV-1, as recently suggested. To test this hypothesis, human anti-V3 monoclonal Abs (MAbs) were selected using a V3 fusion protein (V3-FP) which retains the conformation of the third variable region. The V3-FP consists of the V3(JR-CSF) sequence inserted into a truncated form of murine leukemia virus gp70. Six human MAbs which recognize epitopes at the crown of the V3 loop were selected with the V3-FP. They were found to react more strongly with molecules displaying conformationally intact V3 than with linear V3 peptides. In a virus capture assay, these MAbs showed cross-clade binding to native, intact virions of clades A, B, C, D, and F. No binding was found to isolates from subtype E. The neutralizing activity of MAbs against primary isolates was determined in three assays: the GHOST cell assay, a phytohemagglutinin-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cell assay, and a luciferase assay. While these new MAbs displayed various degrees of activity, the pattern of cross-clade neutralization of clades A, B, and F was most pronounced. The neutralization of clades C and D viruses was weak and sporadic, and neutralization of clade E by these MAbs was not detected. Analysis by linear regression showed a highly significant correlation (P < 0.0001) between the strength of binding of these anti-V3 MAbs to intact virions and the percent neutralization. These studies demonstrate that human MAbs to conformation-sensitive epitopes of V3 display cross-clade reactivity in both binding to native, intact virions and neutralization of primary isolates.     

Characterization of human serotype 1 astrovirus-neutralizing epitopes.

Astroviruses are important agents of pediatric gastroenteritis. To better understand astrovirus antigenic structure and the basis of protective immunity, monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were produced against serotype 1 human astrovirus. Four MAbs were generated. One MAb (8G4) was nonneutralizing but reacted to all seven serotypes of astrovirus by enzyme-linked immunosorbentassay (ELISA) and immunoperoxidase staining of infected cells. Three MAbs were found to have potent neutralizing activity against astrovirus. The first (5B7) was serotype 1 specific, another (7C2) neutralized all seven human astrovirus serotypes, while the third (3B2) neutralized serotypes 1 and 7. Immunoprecipitation of radiolabeled astrovirus proteins from supernatants of astrovirus-infected cells showed that all three neutralizing antibodies reacted with VP29. MAb 5B7 also reacted strongly with VP26. A competition ELISA showed that all three neutralizing antibodies competed with each other for binding to purified astrovirus virions, suggesting that their epitopes were topographically in close proximity. None of the neutralizing MAbs competed with nonneutralizing MAb 8G4. The neutralizing MAbs were used to select antigenic variant astroviruses, which were then studied in neutralization assays. These assays also suggested a close relationship between the respective epitopes. All three neutralizing MAbs were able to prevent attachment of radiolabeled astrovirus particles to human Caco 2 intestinal cell monolayers. Taken together, these data suggest that the astrovirus capsid protein VP29 may be important in viral neutralization, heterotypic immunity, and virus attachment to target cells.     

Naturally occurring human parainfluenza type 3 viruses exhibit divergence in amino acid sequence of their fusion protein neutralization epitopes and cleavage sites.

Many human parainfluenza type 3 virus (PIV3) strains isolated from children with respiratory illness are resistant to neutralization by monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) which recognize epitopes in antigenic site A or B of the fusion (F) protein of the prototype 1957 PIV3 strain. The F protein genes of seven PIV3 clinical isolates were sequenced to determine whether their neutralization-resistant phenotypes were associated with specific differences in amino acids which are recognized by neutralizing MAbs. Several clinical strains which were resistant to neutralization by site A or B MAbs had amino acid differences at residues 398 or 73, respectively. These specific changes undoubtedly account for the neutralization-resistant phenotype of these isolates, since identical substitutions at residues 398 or 73 in MAb-selected escape mutants confer resistance to neutralization by site A or B MAbs. The existence of identical changes in naturally occurring and MAb-selected neutralization-resistant PIV3 strains raises the possibility that antigenically different strains may arise by immune selection during replication in partially immune children. Three of the seven clinical strains examined had differences in their F protein cleavage site sequence. Whereas the prototype PIV3 strain has the cleavage site sequence Arg-Thr-Lys-Arg, one clinical isolate had the sequence Arg-Thr-Arg-Arg and two isolates had the sequence Arg-Thr-Glu-Arg. The different cleavage site sequences of these viruses did not affect their level of replication in either continuous simian or bovine kidney cell monolayers (in the presence or absence of exogenous trypsin or plasmin) or in the upper or lower respiratory tract of rhesus monkeys. We conclude that two nonconsecutive basic residues within the F protein cleavage site are sufficient for efficient replication of human PIV3 in primates.     

Neutralization escape mutants define a dominant immunogenic neutralization site on hepatitis A virus.

Hepatitis A virus is an hepatotrophic human picornavirus which demonstrates little antigenic variability. To topologically map immunogenic sites on hepatitis A virus which elicit neutralizing antibodies, eight neutralizing monoclonal antibodies were evaluated in competition immunoassays employing radiolabeled monoclonal antibodies and HM-175 virus. Whereas two antibodies (K3-4C8 and K3-2F2) bound to intimately overlapping epitopes, the epitope bound by a third antibody (B5-B3) was distinctly different as evidenced by a lack of competition between antibodies for binding to the virus. The other five antibodies variably blocked the binding of both K3-4C8-K3-2F2 and B5-B3, suggesting that these epitopes are closely spaced and perhaps part of a single neutralization immunogenic site. Several combinations of monoclonal antibodies blocked the binding of polyclonal human convalescent antibody by greater than 96%, indicating that the neutralization epitopes bound by these antibodies are immunodominant in humans. Spontaneously arising HM-175 mutants were selected for resistance to monoclonal antibody-mediated neutralization. Fourteen clonally isolated mutants demonstrated substantial resistance to multiple monoclonal antibodies, including K3-4C8-K3-2F2 and B5-B3. In addition, 13 mutants demonstrated a 10-fold or greater reduction in neutraliztion mediated by polyclonal human antibody. Neutralization resistance was associated with reduced antibody binding. These results suggest that hepatitis A virus may differ from poliovirus in possessing a single, dominant neutralization immunogenic site and therefore may be a better candidate for synthetic peptide or antiidiotype vaccine development.     

Antigenic analysis of equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) variants by using monoclonal antibodies: epitopes of glycoprotein gp90 of EIAV stimulate neutralizing antibodies.

Monoclonal antibodies produced against the prototype cell-adapted Wyoming strain of equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV), a lentivirus, were studied for reactivity with the homologous prototype and 16 heterologous isolates. Eighteen hybridomas producing monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were isolated. Western blot (immunoblot) analyses indicated that 10 were specific for the major envelope glycoprotein (gp90) and 8 for the transmembrane glycoprotein (gp45). Four MAbs specific to epitopes of gp90 neutralized prototype EIAV infectivity. These neutralizing MAbs apparently reacted with variable regions of the envelope gp90, as evidenced by their unique reactivity with the panel of isolates, suggesting recognition of at least three different neutralization epitopes. The conformation of these epitopes appears to be continuous, as they resisted treatment with sodium dodecyl sulfate and reducing reagents. Monoclonal antibodies that reacted with conserved epitopes on gp90 or gp45 failed to neutralize EIAV. Our data also demonstrated that there was a large spectrum of possible EIAV serotypes and confirmed that antigenic variation occurs with high frequency in EIAV. Moreover, the data showed that variation is a rapid and random process, as no pattern of variant evolution was evident by comparison of 13 isolates from parallel infections. These results represent the first production of neutralizing MAbs specific for a lentivirus glycoprotein and document alterations in one or more neutralization epitopes of the major surface glycoprotein among sequential isolates of EIAV recovered during persistent infection.     

Monoclonal antibody-based antigenic mapping of norovirus GII.4-2002

Noroviruses are the primary cause of epidemic gastroenteritis in humans, and GII.4 strains cause ～80% of the overall disease burden. Surrogate neutralization assays using sera and mouse monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) suggest that antigenic variation maintains GII.4 persistence in the face of herd immunity, as the emergence of new pandemic strains is accompanied by newly evolved neutralization epitopes. To potentially identify specific blockade epitopes that are likely neutralizing and evolving between pandemic strains, mice were hyperimmunized with GII.4-2002 virus-like particles (VLPs) and the resulting MAbs were characterized by biochemical and immunologic assays. All of the MAbs but one recognized GII.4 VLPs representing strains circulating from 1987 to 2009. One MAb weakly recognized GII.4-1987 and -1997 while strongly interacting with 2002 VLPs. This antibody was highly selective and effective at blocking only GII.4-2002-ligand binding. Using bioinformatic analyses, we predicted an evolving GII.4 surface epitope composed of amino acids 407, 412, and 413 and subsequently built mutant VLPs to test the impact of the epitope on MAb binding and blockade potential. Replacement of the 2002 epitope with the epitopes found in 1987 or 2006 strains either reduced or ablated enzyme immunoassay recognition by the GII.4-2002-specific blockade MAb. These data identify a novel, evolving blockade epitope that may be associated with protective immunity, providing further support for the hypotheses that GII.4 norovirus evolution results in antigenic variation that allows the virus to escape from protective herd immunity, resulting in new epidemic strains.     

Development and characterization of neutralizing monoclonal antibodies against canine distemper virus hemagglutinin protein

Canine distemper virus (CDV) causes a serious multisystemic disease in dogs and other carnivora. Hemagglutinin (H) protein‐specific antibodies are mainly responsible for protective immunity against CDV infection. In the present study, six neutralizing MAbs to the H protein of CDV were newly obtained and characterized by immunizing BALB/c mice with a recent Chinese field isolate. Competitive binding inhibition assay revealed that they recognized four distinct antigenic regions of the H protein. Immunofluorescence assay and western blotting showed that all MAbs recognize the conformational rather than the linear epitopes of the H protein. Furthermore, in immunofluorescence and virus neutralization assays, two of the MAbs were found to react only with the recent Chinese field isolate and not with older CDV strains, including vaccine strain Onderstepoort, indicating there are neutralization‐related antigenic variations between the recent Chinese field isolate and the older CDV strains examined in this study. The newly established MAbs are useful for differentiating the expanding CDV strains and could be used in immunotherapy and immunodiagnosis against infection with CDV.     

Linear and Conformation-Dependent Antigenic Sites on the Nucleoprotein of Rabies Virus

A set of 29 monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) specific for the rabies virus nucleoprotein (N protein) was prepared and used to analyze the topography of antigenic sites. At least four partially overlapping antigenic sites were delineated on the N protein of rabies virus by competitive binding assays. Indirect immunofluorescent antibody tests using MAbs with a series of rabies and rabies-related viruses showed that epitopes shared by various fixed and street strains of rabies virus were mainly localized at antigenic sites II and III, while epitopes representing the genus-specific antigen of Lyssavirus were widely presented at sites I, III and IV. All but one of seven MAbs specific for antigenic sites I, IV and bridge site (I and II) reacted with the antigen that had been denatured by sodium dodecyl sulfate or 2-mercaptoethanol, as well as with the denatured N protein in Western blotting assays. However, none of the MAbs against antigenic sites II and III reacted with the denatured antigen. These data indicate that antigenic sites I and IV, and sites II and III on the N protein of rabies virus are composed of linear and conformation-dependent epitopes, respectively.     

Characterization of dengue virus complex-specific neutralizing epitopes on envelope protein domain III of dengue 2 virus

The surface of the mature dengue virus (DENV) particle is covered with 180 envelope (E) proteins arranged as homodimers that lie relatively flat on the virion surface. Each monomer consists of three domains (ED1, ED2, and ED3), of which ED3 contains the critical neutralization determinant(s). In this study, a large panel of DENV-2 recombinant ED3 mutant proteins was used to physically and biologically map the epitopes of five DENV complex-specific monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). All five MAbs recognized a single antigenic site that includes residues K310, I312, P332, L389, and W391. The DENV complex antigenic site was located on an upper lateral surface of ED3 that was distinct but overlapped with a previously described DENV-2 type-specific antigenic site on ED3. The DENV complex-specific MAbs required significantly higher occupancy levels of available ED3 binding sites on the virion, compared to DENV-2 type-specific MAbs, in order to neutralize virus infectivity. Additionally, there was a great deal of variability in the neutralization efficacy of the DENV complex-specific MAbs with representative strains of the four DENVs. Overall, the differences in physical binding and potency of neutralization observed between DENV complex- and type-specific MAbs in this study demonstrate the critical role of the DENV type-specific antibodies in the neutralization of virus infectivity.     

Analysis of neutralizing epitopes on foot-and-mouth disease virus.

For the investigation of the antigenic determinant structure of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV), neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against complete virus were characterized by Western blot (immunoblot), enzyme immunoassay, and competition experiments with a synthetic peptide, isolated coat protein VP1, and viral particles as antigens. Two of the four MAbs reacted with each of these antigens, while the other two MAbs recognized only complete viral particles and reacted only very poorly with the peptide. The four MAbs showed different neutralization patterns with a panel of 11 different FMDV strains. cDNA-derived VP1 protein sequences of the different strains were compared to find correlations between the primary structure of the protein and the ability of virus to be neutralized. Based on this analysis, it appears that the first two MAbs recognized overlapping sequential epitopes in the known antigenic site represented by the peptide, whereas the two other MAbs recognized conformational epitopes. These conclusions were supported and extended by structural analyses of FMDV mutants resistant to neutralization by an MAb specific for a conformational epitope. These results demonstrate that no amino acid exchanges had occurred in the primary antigenic site of VP1 but instead in the other coat proteins VP2 and VP3, which by themselves do not induce neutralizing antibodies.     

The v3 loop is accessible on the surface of most human immunodeficiency virus type 1 primary isolates and serves as a neutralization epitope

Antibodies (Abs) against the V3 loop of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 gp120 envelope glycoprotein were initially considered to mediate only type-specific neutralization of T-cell-line-adapted viruses. However, recent data show that cross-neutralizing V3 Abs also exist, and primary isolates can be efficiently neutralized with anti-V3 monoclonal Abs (MAbs). The neutralizing activities of anti-V3 polyclonal Abs and MAbs may, however, be limited due to antigenic variations of the V3 region, a lack of V3 exposure on the surface of intact virions, or Ab specificity. For clarification of this issue, a panel of 32 human anti-V3 MAbs were screened for neutralization of an SF162-pseudotyped virus in a luciferase assay. MAbs selected with a V3 fusion protein whose V3 region mimics the conformation of the native virus were significantly more potent than MAbs selected with V3 peptides. Seven MAbs were further tested for neutralizing activity against 13 clade B viruses in a single-round peripheral blood mononuclear cell assay. While there was a spectrum of virus sensitivities to the anti-V3 MAbs observed, 12 of the 13 viruses were neutralized by one or more of the anti-V3 MAbs. MAb binding to intact virions correlated significantly with binding to solubilized gp120s and with the potency of neutralization. These results demonstrate that the V3 loop is accessible on the native virus envelope, that the strength of binding of anti-V3 Abs correlates with the potency of neutralization, that V3 epitopes may be shared rather than type specific, and that Abs against the V3 loop, particularly those targeting conformational epitopes, can mediate the neutralization of primary isolates.     

Marked differences in the antigenic structure of human respiratory syncytial virus F and G glycoproteins.

Monoclonal antibodies directed against the glycoproteins of human respiratory syncytial virus were used in competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for topological mapping of epitopes. Whereas epitopes of the F glycoprotein could be ascribed to five nonoverlapping antigenic sites, anti-G antibodies recognized unique epitopes, many of whose competition profiles overlapped extensively. Variant viruses selected with a neutralizing (47F) anti-F antibody lost the binding for only 47F and 49F antibodies, which mapped in the same antigenic area. In contrast, viruses selected with an anti-G antibody lost the capacity to bind most of the anti-G antibodies, and their G protein was not recognized by an anti-virus antiserum, indicating major changes in the antigenic structure of the G molecule. Finally, we found great antigenic variation of the G protein among viral isolates. This occurred even within viruses of the same subtype with only limited divergence of amino acid sequence between strains. All of these data indicate marked differences in the antigenic organization of the G and F glycoproteins of respiratory syncytial virus; we discuss these differences in terms of the chemical structure of the glycoproteins.     

Exploration of antigenic variation in gp120 from clades A through F of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 by using monoclonal antibodies.

The reactivities of a panel of 14 monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) with monomeric gp120 derived from 67 isolates of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 of clades A through F were assessed by using an antigen-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The MAbs used were all raised against gp120 or gp120 peptides from clade B viruses and were directed at a range of epitopes relevant to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 neutralization: the V2 and V3 loops, discontinuous epitopes overlapping the CD4-binding site, and two other discontinuous epitopes. Four of the five V3 MAbs showed modest cross-reactivity within clade B but very limited reactivity with gp120s from other clades. These reactivity patterns are consistent with the known primary sequence requirements for the binding of these MAbs. One V3 human MAb (19b), however, was much more broadly reactive than the others, binding to 19 of 29 clade B and 10 of 12 clade E gp120s. The 19b epitope is confined to the flanks of the V3 loop, and these sequences are relatively conserved in clade B and E viruses. In contrast to the limited reactivity of V3 MAbs, CD4-binding site MAbs were much more broadly reactive across clades, two of these MAbs (205-46-9 and 21h) being virtually pan-reactive across clades A through F. Another human MAb (A-32) to a discontinuous epitope was also pan-reactive. The CD4-binding site is strongly conserved between clades; but when considering the epitopes near the CD4-binding site, clade D gp120 appears to be the most closely related to clade B and clade E appears to be the least related. A tentative rank order for these epitopes is B/D-A/C-E/F. V2 MAbs reacted sporadically within and between clades, and no clear pattern was observable. While results from binding assays do not predict neutralization serotypes, they suggest that there may be antigenic subtypes related, but not identical, to the genetic subtypes.     

Neutralization of respiratory syncytial virus by individual and mixtures of F and G protein monoclonal antibodies.

We identified several types of neutralization effected by F and G protein monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) reacted individually or as mixtures against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Neutralizing activity was identified by a microneutralization test in which virus replication was determined by enzyme immunoassay. Complete neutralization was seen only with MAbs against the F protein. Strain-specific neutralization, complete neutralization against some strains of RSV, and no neutralization against other strains were seen with an additional MAb against the F protein. Partial neutralization, virus replication significantly reduced but still present, and no neutralization were seen with MAbs against both the F and G proteins. Enhanced neutralization, enhanced efficacy of neutralization, or increased neutralizing titer with a mixture of two MAbs over that for the individual MAbs was seen with all MAbs against the F protein and all but three MAbs against the G protein. Most (10 of 13) of the MAbs that exhibited neutralizing activity reacted with some but not all strains of RSV in an enzyme immunoassay. The epitopes corresponding to these 10 MAbs probably contribute to the strain-specific component of the neutralizing antibody response to RSV. Our results suggest that interpretation of RSV neutralization with MAbs is complex and that studies of such neutralization should include mixtures of MAbs and multiple RSV strains.     

Neutralizing monoclonal antibodies against hepatitis C virus E2 protein bind discontinuous epitopes and inhibit infection at a postattachment step

The E2 glycoprotein of hepatitis C virus (HCV) mediates viral attachment and entry into target hepatocytes and elicits neutralizing antibodies in infected patients. To characterize the structural and functional basis of HCV neutralization, we generated a novel panel of 78 monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against E2 proteins from genotype 1a and 2a HCV strains. Using high-throughput focus-forming reduction or luciferase-based neutralization assays with chimeric infectious HCV containing structural proteins from both genotypes, we defined eight MAbs that significantly inhibited infection of the homologous HCV strain in cell culture. Two of these bound E2 proteins from strains representative of HCV genotypes 1 to 6, and one of these MAbs, H77.39, neutralized infection of strains from five of these genotypes. The three most potent neutralizing MAbs in our panel, H77.16, H77.39, and J6.36, inhibited infection at an early postattachment step. Receptor binding studies demonstrated that H77.39 inhibited binding of soluble E2 protein to both CD81 and SR-B1, J6.36 blocked attachment to SR-B1 and modestly reduced binding to CD81, and H77.16 blocked attachment to SR-B1 only. Using yeast surface display, we localized epitopes for the neutralizing MAbs on the E2 protein. Two of the strongly inhibitory MAbs, H77.16 and J6.36, showed markedly reduced binding when amino acids within hypervariable region 1 (HVR1) and at sites ～100 to 200 residues away were changed, suggesting binding to a discontinuous epitope. Collectively, these studies help to define the structural and functional complexity of antibodies against HCV E2 protein with neutralizing potential.     

Antigenic and Functional Analyses of Glycoprotein of Rabies Virus Using Monoclonal Antibodies

Thirty-five monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against glycoprotein (G protein) of the RC-HL strain of the rabies virus have been established. Using these MAbs, two antigenic sites (I and II) were delineated on the G protein of the RC-HL strain in a competitive binding assay. Of these, 34 MAbs recognized the epitopes on site IL Site II was further categorized into 10 subsites according to their patterns in a competitive binding assay. Each site II-specific MAb showed 5 to 23 nonreciprocal competitions. The reactivities of 35 MAbs to rabies and rabies-related viruses in an indirect immunofluorescent antibody test showed that six MAbs in group A binded to rabies and rabies-related viruses and eight MAbs in group E reacted only with rabies viruses, considering that the former represent the genus-specific of Lyssavirus and the latter are rabies virus-specific. From biological assays, 28 of the 35 MAbs showed neutralization activity, 31 showed hemagglutination inhibition (HI) activity, and 18 showed immunolysis (IL) activity. The MAbs recognizing neutralization epitopes fell into at least three groups: those exhibiting both HI and IL activity, those showing only HI activity, and those showing neither HI nor IL activity. All IL epitopes overlap with HA epitopes. Five of the nine MAbs which reacted with the antigen treated by sodium dodecyl sulfate in ELISA were not reduced, or reduced only slightly, in the titer. None of the MAbs reacted with 2-mercaptoethanol-treated antigen. Only one MAb that recognized site I reacted with the denatured G protein in a Western blotting assay, indicating that its epitope is linear. These results suggest that almost all of the epitopes on the G protein of the rabies virus are conformation-dependent and the G protein forms a complicated antigenic structure.