The Lyssavirus glycoprotein: A key to cross-immunity

Rabies is an acute viral encephalomyelitis in warm-blooded vertebrates, caused by viruses belonging to Rhabdovirus family and genus Lyssavirus. Although rabies is categorised as a neglected disease, the rabies virus (RABV) is the most studied amongst Lyssaviruses which show nearly identical infection patterns. In efforts to improving post-exposure prophylaxis, several anti-rabies monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting the glycoprotein (G protein) sites I, II, III and G5 have been characterized. To explore cross-neutralization capacity of available mAbs and discover new possible B-cell epitopes, we have analyzed all available glycoprotein sequences from Lyssaviruses with a focus on sequence variation and conservation. This information was mapped on the structure of a representative G protein. We proposed several possible cross-neutralizing B-cell epitopes (GUVITTF, WLRTV, REECLD and EHLWEEL) in complement to the already well-characterized antigenic sites. The research could facilitate development of novel cross reactive mAbs against RABV and even more broad, against possibly all Lyssavirus members. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.