Mapping of linear epitopes on fibre knob of human adenovirus serotype 5

Linear antigenic epitopes on the Ad5 fibre knob (FK5) were characterised wi th fibre- and virion-specific antisera, using 15-mer overlapping peptides c overing the knob of the fibre. They were compared with epitopes on the Ad2 fibre knob (FK2) domain. The stronger reactive FK5 epitopes were represente d by peptides P3 (amino acids (aa A419-L433)), P6 (aa S449-E463), P7 (aa I4 59-L473), P12 (aa G509-N523), P14 (aa P529-G543) and P16 (aa A549-Y563). P3 spans the B beta -strand and the left portion of the C beta -strand. P6 an d P7 the D beta -strand and the adjacent parts of the CD and DE loops, P12, P14 and P16 the G, H and I beta strands and the adjacent parts of the loop s, respectively. The stronger reactive epitopes on FK2 were located in P2 ( aa P409-L423), P6 (aa T449-Q463), P8 (aa E469-G483), P13 (aa Q519-T533) and P16 (aa S549-K563). The positions of FK5 and FK2 derived peptides, represe nting epitopes, are either identical or overlapping or adjacent, as determi ned by amino acid sequence alignment. Antisera obtained against several lon ger peptides showed virus neutralising capacity, indicating neutralising ep itopes in these peptides. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. Ail rights reserve d.