Disease-specific B Cell epitopes for serum antibodies from patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and serologic detection of SARS antibodies by epitope-based peptide antigens

J Infect Dis. 2004 Aug 15;190(4):797-809. doi: 10.1086/422753. Epub 2004 Jul 15.

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) has emerged as a highly contagious, sometimes fatal disease. To find disease-specific B cell epitopes, phage-displayed random peptide libraries were panned on serum immunoglobulin (Ig) G antibodies from patients with SARS. Forty-nine immunopositive phage clones that bound specifically to serum from patients with SARS were selected. These phageborne peptides had 4 consensus motifs, of which 2 corresponded to amino acid sequences reported for SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV). Synthetic peptide binding and competitive-inhibition assays further confirmed that patients with SARS generated antibodies against SARS-CoV. Immunopositive phage clones and epitope-based peptide antigens demonstrated clinical diagnostic potential by reacting with serum from patients with SARS. Antibody-response kinetics were evaluated in 4 patients with SARS, and production of IgM, IgG, and IgA were documented as part of the immune response. In conclusion, B cell epitopes of SARS corresponded to novel coronavirus. Our epitope-based serologic test may be useful in laboratory detection of the virus and in further study of the pathogenesis of SARS.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Motifs / immunology
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood
  • Antibodies, Viral / immunology*
  • Antigen-Antibody Reactions
  • Antigens, Viral / immunology*
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Epitopes / immunology
  • Epitopes / isolation & purification
  • Humans
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Peptide Library
  • Peptides / immunology*
  • Peptides / isolation & purification
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / blood
  • Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / etiology
  • Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / immunology*
  • Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / immunology*
  • Species Specificity
  • Vero Cells

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Antigens, Viral
  • Epitopes
  • Peptide Library
  • Peptides