Cross-reactive and serospecific epitopes of nucleocapsid proteins of three hantaviruses: Prospects for new diagnostic tools

The diagnosis of infectious diseases is sometimes difficult because of extensive immunological cross-reactivity between related viral antigens. On the path of constructing sero-specific antigens, we have identified residues involved in sero-specific and cross-reactive recognition of the nucleocapsid proteins (NPs) of Puumala virus (PUUV), Seoul virus (SEOV), and Sin Nombre virus (SNV) using serum samples from 17 Nephropathia epidemica patients. The mapping was performed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot analysis on a panel of N protein derivatives and alanine-substitution mutants in the three different hantavirus backgrounds. Four regions with different serological profiles were identified encompassing the amino acids (aa) 14–17, 22–24, 26, and 35–38. One of the regions showed strong cross-reactivity and was important for the recognition of SEOV and SNV antigens, but not the PUUV antigen (aa 35–38). Two regions displayed perceivable SEOV characteristics (aa 14–17 and aa 22–24 and 26) and the combined result of the alanine replacements resulted in a synergetic effect against the PUUV antigen (aa 14–17, 22–24, 26).