Abstract
West Nile (WN) virus is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that emerged in the United States in 1999 and can cause fatal encephalitis. Envelope (E) protein cDNA from a WN virus isolate recovered from Culex pipiens in Connecticut was expressed in Escherichia coli. The recombinant E protein was purified and used as Ag in immunoblot assays and immunization experiments. Patients with WN virus infection had Abs that recognized the recombinant E protein. C3H/HeN mice immunized with E protein developed E protein Abs and were protected from infection with WN virus. Passive administration of E protein antisera was also sufficient to afford immunity. E protein is a candidate vaccine to prevent WN virus infection.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 5273-5277 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Journal of Immunology |
Volume | 167 |
Issue number | 9 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Nov 1 2001 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Immunology and Allergy
- Immunology