VACCINATION OF CATTLE WITH THE N-TERMINUS OF L2 IS NECESSARY AND SUFFICIENT FOR PREVENTING INFECTION BY BOVINE PAPILLOMAVIRUS-4

We have previously shown that cattle vaccinated with L2, the minor str uctural protein of bovine papillomavirus-4 (BPV4), do not develop alim enlary papillomas upon challenge with BPV-4. Analysis of the B and T c ell response in L2-vaccinated animals showed that the majority of the response was directed against the N-terminus and C-terminus of L2 with little response against the middle portion. Cattle were vaccinated wi th the N-terminus or the C-terminus of L2. The animals vaccinated with the N-terminus were completely protected from viral challenge, wherea s the animals vaccinated with the C-terminus were not. Further analysi s with synthetic overlapping peptides spanning the entire N-terminus m apped a B cell immunodominant epitope at amino acid 101-120. This epit ope was recognised by all vaccinated animals. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.