HEPATITIS-A VIRUS ANTIGENIC DETERMINANTS MAPPING BY MEANS OF SYNTHETIC PEPTIDES

Monoclonal and polyclonal anti-hepatitis A (HAV) antibodies were used to search for peptides mimicking the antigenic determinants of HAV. Sy nthetic peptides VP1 115-139, VP1 117-139, VP1 126-139, VP2 69-99, VP2 80-99, VP3 45-57, VP3 137-150, were shoun to bind the anti-HAV antibo dies in ELISA. Peptides VP1 115-139, VP1 117-139, VP2 69-99 were utili zed to produce the antipeptide antibodies. Mice were immunized with th e free peptides or with their conjugates with ovalbumin. Only the free VP2 69-99 caused formation of HAV binding antibodies.