IMMUNE-RESPONSE TO BACULOVIRUS-EXPRESSED PROTEIN-FRAGMENT AMINO-ACIDS-190-289 OF RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS (RSV) FUSION PROTEIN

At least two neutralizing epitopes have been identified in the amino a cid (aa) sequence 190-289 of the RSV fusion protein. The authors expre ssed this region in insect cells (bF(190-289)) and compared the immune response of bF(190-289) with that induced by baculovirus expressed fu ll-length fusion protein (bF). As with bF, mice primed with bF(190-289 ) produced exclusively antibodies of IgG1 isotype, generated neutraliz ing antibodies, reduced significantly the virus titer (about a half lo g(10) reduction) after RSV challenge and induced a Helper T (Th) 2 cel l response in mediastinal lymph node cells (MLNC) restimulated in vitr o. Thus, the aa sequence 190-289 represents a major immunogenic region of the RSV fusion protein. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.