Expression and serological application of recombinant epitope-repeat protein carrying an immunodominant epitope of Newcastle disease virus nucleoprotein

Gaikwad, Satish S.; Lee, Hyun-Jeong; Kim, Ji-Ye; Choi, Kang-Seuk

N-and C-terminal regions of the NP serve as B-cell epitopes in host [4, 5] . In particular, C-terminal immunological region that forms alpha helical structure is permissible for modification. Thus this epitopic region can serve as negative marker if replaced with a foreign epitope [6] . For example, amino acid sequence ETQFLDLMRAVANSMR (aa 444-459) on NDV NP is an epitope, which serves as linear immunodominant epitope (IDE) and can be replaced or deleted [4] . This antigen should facilitate differentiation of vaccinated animal to that of infected during serosurveillance in the case of the marker vaccine applying vaccination program. A multiepitope protein as a vaccine candidate [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] or as diagnostic reagent [13] [14] [15] has been explored in multiple instances. Multiepitope recombinant proteins are advantageous as they can be designed rationally and offers higher specificity and sensitivity [16] .