Neutralization of Toscana virus is partially mediated by antibodies to the nucleocapsid protein

Abstract

The envelope glycoproteins G1/G2 of Toscana virus (TOSV) seem to have the most important protective role in stimulating antibodies against the disease in humans, as well as antibodies against the Nucleoprotein (N), a partial neutralizing activity. Mice immunized with TOSV recombinant Nucleoprotein developed a strong humoral response to the TOSV that revealed the presence of neutralizing antibody than in vitro assay. The neutralizing antibody titre of mice immunized with the whole TOSV was analyzed before and after absorption of the sera with the recombinant N protein. A decrease of the neutralizing activity was observed in the treated sera. Similar results were obtained absorbing human anti-TOSV positive sera with the recombinant N protein. This study was designed to identify the nature of antibodies produced against the N protein of TOSV in mice and to establish correlation with antibodies produced in humans by natural infection.

Serosurvey Study of Toscana Virus in Domestic Animals, Granada, Spain

“…However, the rate of vertically infected sandflies decreases in each generation, suggesting that alternative mechanisms for virus maintenance should exist (Tesh and Modi 1987). Transient and low-level viremia has been described in humans and animals after natural or experimental Phlebovirus infection (Bartelloni et al 1976, Cusi et al 2001. Even though humans may play a role in the life cycle of TOSV by infecting naïve sandflies, the vector must ingest large quantity of virus to become infected.…”

Recent Mumps Outbreaks in Vaccinated Populations: No Evidence of Immune Escape

“…No effect on neutralization was seen with replacement of the N, V/P/I, and L genes [rJLϩ88(N/P/L) and r88ϩJL(N/P/L); P values of 0.556 and 0.663, respectively], a finding that was perhaps not surprising considering the likely inaccessibility of these internally expressed proteins to antibody. Nonetheless, neutralization by antibodies specific for internally expressed proteins has been reported for other viruses (22,39,41). Although Western blot analysis revealed differences in viral protein content between the different viruses, levels of protein expression did not correlate with susceptibility to neutralization (data not shown).…”