Identification of Zika Virus NS1-Derived Peptides with Potential Applications in Serological Tests

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Prudencio, Carlos Roberto ; da Costa, Vivaldo Gomes ; Rocha, Leticia Barboza ; da Costa, Hernan Hermes Monteiro ; Orts, Diego Jose Belato ; Santos, Felipe Rocha da Silva ; Rahal, Paula ; Lino, Nikolas Alexander Borsato ; da Conceicao, Pamela Joyce Previdelli ; Bittar, Cintia ; Machado, Rafael Rahal Guaragna ; Durigon, Edison Luiz ; Araujo Jr, Joao Pessoa ; Polatto, Juliana Moutinho ; da Silva, Miriam Aparecida ; de Oliveira, Joyce Araujo ; Mitsunari, Thais ; Pereira, Lennon Ramos ; Andreata-Santos, Robert ; Ferreira, Luis Carlos de Souza ; Luz, Daniela ; Piazza, Roxane Maria Fontes

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Viruses-Basel; v. 15, n. 3, p. 20-pg., 2023-03-01.

Abstract

Zika virus (ZIKV), a mosquito-borne pathogen, is an emerging arbovirus associated with sporadic symptomatic cases of great medical concern, particularly among pregnant women and newborns affected with neurological disorders. Serological diagnosis of ZIKV infection is still an unmet challenge due to the co-circulation of the dengue virus, which shares extensive sequence conservation of structural proteins leading to the generation of cross-reactive antibodies. In this study, we aimed to obtain tools for the development of improved serological tests for the detection of ZIKV infection. Polyclonal sera (pAb) and a monoclonal antibody (mAb 2F2) against a recombinant form of the ZIKV nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) allowed the identification of linear peptide epitopes of the NS1 protein. Based on these findings, six chemically synthesized peptides were tested both in dot blot and ELISA assays using convalescent sera collected from ZIKV-infected patients. Two of these peptides specifically detected the presence of ZIKV antibodies and proved to be candidates for the detection of ZIKV-infected subjects. The availability of these tools opens perspectives for the development of NS1-based serological tests with enhanced sensitivity regarding other flaviviruses. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/20045-7 - Antigen discovery and development of serological diagnostic methods and vaccine approaches against the Zika Virus (ZIKV)
• Grantee: Luis Carlos de Souza Ferreira
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 16/16188-7 - Recombinant antibodies against alpha-hemolysin and CNF1 toxins for the diagnosis and therapy of uropathogenic Escherichia coli
• Grantee: Bruna de Lucca Caetano
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 17/50333-7 - Institutional research development plan of the Instituto Adolfo Lutz (PDIp)
• Grantee: Carlos Henrique Camargo
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - State Research Institutes Modernization Program
• FAPESP's process: 16/23560-0 - Development of uniplex and multiplex diagnostic platforms for arbovirus infection using recombinant proteins
• Grantee: Robert Andreata Santos
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 15/17178-2 - OPTIMIZATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF RECOMBINANT ANTIBODIES AND THEIR APPLICATION FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THERAPY OF SHIGA, HEAT-LABILE AND HEAT-STABLE ENTEROTOXINS
• Grantee: Roxane Maria Fontes Piazza
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 16/05570-8 - Use of Zika virus recombinant proteins for development of diagnostic methods and vaccines
• Grantee: Lennon Ramos Pereira
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 17/24769-2 - Zika virus in postpartum women and newborns: seroepidemiology and molecular characterization
• Grantee: Rafael Rahal Guaragna Machado
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)