Production and diagnostic application of recombinant domain III of West Nile envelope protein in Brazil

Juliana Helena Chávez
Vinicius Pinho dos Reis
Jaqueline Raymondi Silva
Helen Julie Laure
José Cesar Rosa
Benedito Antônio Lopes da Fonseca
Luiz Tadeu Moraes Figueiredo

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Publication date

January 2013

DOI

10.1590/0037-868214142013

Publisher

Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT)

ISSN

0037-8682

Journal

1678-9849

Citation count (estimate)

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: West Nile virus (WNV) is a flavivirus with a natural cycle involving mosquitoes and birds. Over the last 11 years, WNV has spread throughout the Americas with the imminent risk of its introduction in Brazil. METHODS: Envelope protein domain III of WNV (rDIII) was bacterially expressed and purified. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with WNV rDIII antigen was standardized against mouse immune fluids (MIAFs) of different flavivirus. RESULTS: WNV rDIII reacted strongly with St. Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV) MIAF but not with other flaviviruses. CONCLUSIONS: This antigen may be a potentially useful tool for serologic diagnosis and may contribute in future epidemiologi...