Loss of virus specific epitopes on JE virus 'E' glycoprotein by acetone treatment.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Some Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus strains have been placed in group II based on the loss of reactivity against Hs (H = HI positive; s = JE virus specific) group of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) in haemagglutination-inhibition (HI) test employing sucrose acetone (SA) extracted antigens. Also acetone-fixation of cells infected with some of the virus strains results in the loss of immunofluorescence (IF) against virus specific MAbs. The present study was undertaken to elucidate the effect of acetone on virus specific haemagglutination (HA) epitopes expressed on 'E' glycoprotein of group II strains of JE virus. METHODS: Porcine kidney (PS) cells were infected with JE virus strains (2 group I Indian strains, 5 group II strains and one neutralization-escape variant of 733913 group I strain). HI and complement fixation (CF) tests were carried out employing both polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitated and SA extracted antigens of JE virus. RESULTS: Employing PEG precipitated antigens, Indian strain G9473 showed titres ranging from 140 to 1160 against all the four virus specific HsMAbs and strain 641686 (1160) with one of the four MAbs (Hs-1) by HI test whereas their SA extracted antigens did not react at all. In contrast, CF was positive employing both SA and PEG antigens in the presence of all four HsMAbs. The reactivity shown by PEG antigens in the HI test was confirmed by blocking the HA activity with the respective MAb. SA antigens, though negative in the HI test, were positive by the blocking assay. Interestingly, some of the non-HI MAbs which were negative against SA antigens, showed positive HI reaction with PEG antigens. Also, additional epitopes on Japanese (Yoken), Sri Lankan (691004) and two Indian (755468 and 641686) JE virus strains were detected either by blocking HA or surface IF. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSIONS: It seems that the acetone treatment might result in HA property of the antigen which is no longer inhibited by an antibody in the HI test. The characterization of such labile and conformation-dependent epitopes is currently been undertaken to elucidate their role either in protection or immunopathogenesis of JE.