Human Linear B-Cell Epitopes Encoded by the Hepatitis E Virus IncludeDeterminants in the RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase

摘要

Hepatitis E virus is responsible for both sporadic and epidemic hepatitis indeveloping countries. The nonenveloped virus is 27-34 nm in diameter and has been shown to contain a single-strand, positive-sense, polyadenylylated RNA genome of approx. 7.5 kilobases. The nucleotide sequence of the Burma strain of hepatitis E virus has been reported and three open reading frames (ORFs) have been identified. The deduced amino acid sequence from each of these ORFs was used to synthesize overlapping peptides (decamers overlapping at every fourth amino acid) on a solid phase. These peptides were then tested in an ELISA with pooled acute-phase sera from known cases of enterically transmitted non-A, non-B hepatitis collected in the Sudan. Linear B-cell epitopes were identified in all three ORFS. Epitopes were identified throughout the polyprotein encoded by ORF1, but they appeared to be particularly concentrated in the region of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase.