Localization of the rubella E1 epitopes

Abstract

Three epitopes which react with haemagglutination inhibition and neutralizing antibodies have been located between amino acids 245-285 in the predicted amino acid sequence of rubella envelope glycoprotein E1.

Nucleotide sequence analysis of a major antigenic domain of the E1 glycoprotein of 22 rubella virus isolates

“…E1-195-296 contains previously characterized neutralizing and haemagglutinating determinants (Terry et at., 1988;Mitchell et aI., 1992;Chaye eta[., 1992), and represents a major antigenic domain. Although a total of 195 nucleotide substitutions relative to the Therien strain occurred in the 22 rubella viruses studied, the majority of these (I89; 96"9%) did not result in a change in the deduced amino acid sequence of E1-195-296.…”

“…Antibody responses are produced against all three structural proteins, although E1 is reported to be immunodominant (Cusi et al, 1989). Several epitopes have been identified on the E1 glycoprotein; Terry et al (1988) mapped three neutralizing and haemagglutinating epitopes to residues 245-285 ; Mitchell et a]. (1992) identified a putative neutralization domain within residues and Chaye el al. (I992) defined three haemagglutinating or neutralizing epitopes within residues 214-240.…”

“…In this report, we have determined the nucleotide sequence of a region of the rubella virus genome which encodes the antigenic determinants identified on the E1 glycoprotein by Terry et al (1988), Mitchell et al (1992) and Chaye et al (1992) from a panel of 22 rubella viruses from USA, Europe and Asia isolated between 1963-1995. The panel included viruses from geographical regions not previously studied, two viruses from cases of rubella reinfection in pregnancy and one isolated from synovial fluid.…”

Rubella vaccines: past, present and future

“…Such techniques are already used to produce hepatitis B vaccine and several other viral vaccines, which are currently being evaluated [91]. The 'protective' epitopes of rubella virus have not yet been identified, although three epitopes which react with HAI and neutralizing antibodies have been described on El [92,93]. No significant antigenic variation in the E1 glycoprotein was detected when nine strains of rubella were compared using a panel of 31 monoclonal antibodies [J. M. Best and colleagues, unpublished results].…”

Laboratory diagnosis of rubella: past, present and future

“…At least six epitopes have been identified on El by monoclonal antibodies. Terry and colleagues [79] have located three distinct epitopes in a short region of 40 amino acids. This clustering suggests that it might be possible to synthesise a standard peptide antigen for diagnostic tests.…”