Antigenicity and immunogenicitv of envelope glycoprotein gpK8.1 of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpes-virus(KSHV)
Objective To analyze the antigenicity and immunogenicity of envelope glyeoprotein gpK8.1 of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV). Methods The recombinant E. coli BL21 which contained KSHV gpK8.1 gene was induced by isopropyl-β-D-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) to express KSHV gpK8.1. To examine the antigenicitiy of KSHV gpK8.1 proteins, these expressed proteins were analyzed by SDS-PAGE, Western blot and ELISA respectively with sera from KSHV-infected patients. Furthermore, rabbits were immunized by the expressed proteins in 0, 2, 4 and 6 weeks respectively, and antiserum was collected in 2, 4 and 6 weeks after each immunization. The antibody was titered by indirect ELISA for immunogenicity analysis. Results The expressed recombinant gpK8. 1 proteins were identified by indirect ELISA and Western blot assay from serum of KSHV-infected patients. The immunoreactive protein bands with expected sizes were 41×103 . After forth immunization, antibody titers of the rabbit anri-gpK8.1 was 105 . Western blot analysis confirmed that the purified rabbit anti-gpK8.1 IgG could recognize the prokarvotic and eukaryotic expressed gpK8.1 protein and natural gpK8.1 protein in BCBL-1 cells. Conclusion The recombinant KSHV gpK8.1 has better antigenicity and immunogenicity. It is of great value to serological diagnosis and vaccine study of KSHV.