The molecular basis of the antigenic cross-reactivity between measles and cowpea mosaic viruses.

Two nonrelated viruses, cowpea mosaic virus (wtCPMV) and measles virus (MV), were found to induce cross-reactive antibodies. The nature of this cross-reactivity was studied and results are presented here demonstrating that antiserum raised against wtCPMV reacted with peptide from the fusion (F) protein of MV. Furthermore, the F protein of MV was shown to share an identical conformational B cell epitope with the small subunit of CPMV coat protein. Passive transfer of anti-wtCPMV antibodies into BALB/c mice conferred partial protection against measles virus induced encephalitis. The results are discussed in the context of cross-protection

Protection against Measles Virus-Induced Encephalitis by Anti-mimotope Antibodies: The Role of Antibody Affinity

AbstractSynthetic peptides mimicking a conformational B-cell epitope (M2) of the measles virus fusion protein (MVF) were used for the immunization of BALB/c mice and the anti-peptide and anti-virus antibody titers induced were compared. Of the panel of tested peptides, a chimeric peptide consisting of two copies of a T-helper epitope (residues 288–302 of MVF) and one copy of the mimotope M2 (TTM2) and a multiple antigen peptide with eight copies of M2 (MAP-M2) induced the highest titers of anti-M2 and anti-MV antibodies. Furthermore, peptides TTM2 and MAP-M2 induced antibodies with highest affinity for the mimotope and highest avidity for measles virus. Immunization with the MAP-M2 construct induced high titers of high-affinity anti-M2 antibody despite the absence of a T-helper epitope, and lymphocyte proliferation data suggest that the addition of M2 to the MAP resulted in the generation of a structure capable of stimulating T-cell help. Sera with anti-M2 reactivity were pooled according to affinity values for binding to M2, and high- and low-affinity pools were tested for their ability to prevent MV-induced encephalitis in a mouse model. The high-affinity serum pool conferred protection in 100% of mice, whereas the lower affinity pool conferred protection to only 50% of animals. These results indicate the potential of mimotopes for use as synthetic peptide immunogens and highlight the importance of designing vaccines to induce antibodies of high affinity

A potential molecular mechanism for hypersensitivity caused by formalin- inactivated vaccines

Heat, oxidation and exposure to aldehydes create reactive carbonyl groups on proteins, targeting antigens to scavenger receptors. Formaldehyde is widely used in making vaccines, but has been associated with atypical enhanced disease during subsequent infection with paramyxoviruses. We show that carbonyl groups on formaldehyde-treated vaccine antigens boost T helper type 2 (T(H)2) responses and enhance respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease in mice, an effect partially reversible by chemical reduction of carbonyl groups