A synthetic peptide based on the NS1 non-structural protein of tick-borne encephalitis virus induces a protective immune response against fatal encephalitis in an experimental animal model

Linear immunogenic peptides corresponding to amino acid sequences from the NS1 non-structural protein from tick-borne encephalitis virus (strain Sophyin) were predicted using established algorithms and synthesized. Of the 12 peptides predicted, 11 were able to induce peptide-specific antibodies in BALB/c mice but only 1 of these 11 was able to induce antibodies, which reacted with the native protein in a radio-immune precipitation assay. This peptide corresponds to amino acids 37-55, and forms one of the predicted structurally conserved alpha helices of the virus NS1 protein. It was able to protect 60% of animals against lethal challenge with the homologous highly pathogenic tick-borne encephalitis virus strain, and adoptive transfer experiments indicated the involvement of the antibodies induced by this peptide in its protective activity in mice.