Expression of Lassa virus nucleocapsid gene fragments in bacteria

50 Years of Lassa Fever Research

Lassa fever was first described as a clinical entity fifty years ago. The causative agent Lassa virus was isolated from these first known cases. This chapter reviews the key publications on Lassa fever research that appeared in the scientific literature at that time and over the ensuing decades.

Epitope mapping of the Lassa virus nucleoprotein using monoclonal anti-nucleocapsid antibodies

Monoclonal antibodies with differing specificity were prepared against the Josiah strain of the Lassa virus. All monoclonal antibodies were characterized by subclass determination and the immunofluorescence test against Lassa, LCM (WE & Arm strain), Junin, Machupo, and other arenavirus antigens. In radioimmune precipitation tests using purified Lassa virus antigen all monoclonal antibodies precipitated a single band of 60 kd, specific for the viral nucleoprotein (p 60). Three domains (A, B, C) were identified on the surface of the Lassa virus nucleoprotein using an ELISA-inhibition test. All domains carried different Lassa virus specific epitopes. In addition, the A-domain carried a group specific epitope present within the arenavirus family as a whole as shown by cross-reaction in immunofluorescence tests. The B-domain only carries Lassa virus specific epitopes, whereas the C-domain has a type specific and a subgroup specific (Lassa, LCM) epitope.