Synthetic peptides derived from predicted B cell epitopes of nervous necrosis virus (NNV) show antigenicity and elicit immunogenic responses in Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer)
Issued Date
2023-08-01
Resource Type
ISSN
10504648
eISSN
10959947
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85161035014
Pubmed ID
37253409
Journal Title
Fish and Shellfish Immunology
Volume
139
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Fish and Shellfish Immunology Vol.139 (2023)
Suggested Citation
Jungi S.V., Machimbirike V.I., Linh N.V., Sangsuriya P., Salin K.R., Senapin S., Dong H.T. Synthetic peptides derived from predicted B cell epitopes of nervous necrosis virus (NNV) show antigenicity and elicit immunogenic responses in Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer). Fish and Shellfish Immunology Vol.139 (2023). doi:10.1016/j.fsi.2023.108854 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/83037
Title
Synthetic peptides derived from predicted B cell epitopes of nervous necrosis virus (NNV) show antigenicity and elicit immunogenic responses in Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer)
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Nervous necrosis virus (NNV) has spread throughout the world, affecting more than 120 freshwater and marine fish species. While vaccination effectively prevents disease outbreaks, the difficulty of producing sufficient viruses using cell lines continues to be a significant disadvantage for producing inactivated vaccines. This study, therefore, explored the application of synthetic peptides as potential vaccine candidates for the prevention of NNV in Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer). Using the epitope prediction tool and molecular docking, three predicted immunogenic B cell epitopes (30–32 aa) derived from NNV coat protein were selected and synthesised, corresponding to amino acid positions 5 to 34 (P1), 133 to 162 (P2) and 181 to 212 (P3). All the predicted peptides interact with Asian sea bass's MHC class II by docking. The antigenicity of these peptides was determined through ELISA and all peptides were able to react with NNV-specific antibodies. Subsequently, the immunogenicity of these synthetic peptides was investigated by immunisation of Asian seabass with individual peptides (30 μg/fish) and a peptide cocktail (P1+P2+P3, 10 μg each/fish) by intraperitoneal injection, followed by a booster dose at day 28 post-primary immunisation. There was a subset of immunised fish that were able to induce upregulation of immune genes (IL-1β, TNFα, MHCI, MHCII β, CD4, CD8, and IgM-like) in the head kidney and spleen post immunization. Importantly, antibodies derived from fish immunised with synthetic peptides reacted with whole NNV virions, and sera from P1 group could neutralise NNV in an in vitro assay. Taken together, these findings indicate that synthetic linear peptides based on predicted B cell epitopes exhibited both antigenic and immunogenic properties, suggesting that they could be potential vaccine candidates for the prevention of NNV in fish.
