A human PrM antibody that recognizes a novel cryptic epitope on dengue E glycoprotein

PLoS One. 2012;7(4):e33451. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0033451. Epub 2012 Apr 3.

Abstract

Dengue virus (DENV) is a major mosquito-borne pathogen infecting up to 100 million people each year; so far no effective treatment or vaccines are available. Recently, highly cross-reactive and infection-enhancing pre-membrane (prM)-specific antibodies were found to dominate the anti-DENV immune response in humans, raising concern over vaccine candidates that contain native dengue prM sequences. In this study, we have isolated a broadly cross-reactive prM-specific antibody, D29, during a screen with a non-immunized human Fab-phage library against the four serotypes of DENV. The antibody is capable of restoring the infectivity of virtually non-infectious immature DENV (imDENV) in FcγR-bearing K562 cells. Remarkably, D29 also cross-reacted with a cryptic epitope on the envelope (E) protein located to the DI/DII junction as evidenced by site-directed mutagenesis. This cryptic epitope, while inaccessible to antibody binding in a native virus particle, may become exposed if E is not properly folded. These findings suggest that generation of anti-prM antibodies that enhance DENV infection may not be completely avoided even with immunization strategies employing E protein alone or subunits of E proteins.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / immunology
  • Antibodies, Viral / immunology*
  • Antibody Affinity
  • Antibody Specificity
  • Cell Line
  • Dengue Virus / immunology*
  • Epitopes / immunology*
  • Glycoproteins / chemistry
  • Glycoproteins / genetics
  • Glycoproteins / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immunization
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology
  • Models, Molecular
  • Mutagenesis, Site-Directed
  • Peptide Library
  • Protein Multimerization
  • Protein Structure, Quaternary
  • Viral Envelope Proteins / chemistry
  • Viral Envelope Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Envelope Proteins / immunology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Epitopes
  • Glycoproteins
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Peptide Library
  • Viral Envelope Proteins