CHARACTERIZATION OF THE BORNA-DISEASE VIRUS PHOSPHOPROTEIN, P23

Borna disease virus infection is diagnosed by the presence of serum an tibodies reactive with the major viral proteins, p40 and p23. Although p40 and p23 are unrelated in amino acid sequence structure, cross-rea ctive antibodies are described. Protein fragments and synthetic peptid es were analyzed to characterize the specificities of antibodies to p2 3. Epitope mapping revealed eight continuous epitopes accessible on th e surface of a predicted structural model for the monomeric and the di sulfide-linked dimeric forms of p23. None of these epitopes was reacti ve with antibodies to p40. Cross-reactivity with monospecific sera and monoclonal antibodies to p40 was found for one discontinuous epitope located at the amino terminus of p23.