DIFFERENT ANTIBODY-RESPONSE TO A NEUTRALIZING EPITOPE OF HUMAN CYTOMEGALOVIRUS GLYCOPROTEIN-B AMONG SEROPOSITIVE INDIVIDUALS

The amino-terminal portion of human cytomegalovirus glycoprotein B (HC MV-gB) was expressed as a fusion protein to analyze the neutralizing e pitope recognized by human monoclonal antibody C23 and the humoral imm une response to this epitope. The linear neutralizing epitope was furt her localized to the peptide within 17 amino acids (position 68-84] wh ich were conserved between two HCMV laboratory strains. Ten out of 17 HCMV-seropositive human sera contained the antibody against this epito pe. Although seven sera were negative for reacting with the fusion pro tein, the viruses isolated from the same patients retained the epitope . The immunogenicity of the epitope and the possible application of C2 3 human monoclonal antibody for passive immunization against HCMV infe ctions are discussed. (C) 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.