Fine level epitope mapping and conservation analysis of two novel linear B-cell epitopes of the avian infectious bronchitis coronavirus nucleocapsid protein

► Infectious bronchitis virus is one of the most important coronavirus causing respiratory disease in chicken. ► Analysis of protein epitope in virus could provide important insights that could facilitate the development of specific diagnostics and further understanding of the antigenic structure of protein. ► Two linear B-cell epitopes that were recognized by the mAbs 6D10 and 4F10, which corresponded to the amino acid sequences 242FGPRTK247 and 195DLIARAAKI230, respectively, in the IBV N protein. ► The two epitopes are very conserved among IBV serotypes.