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Chen T, Ding Z, Li X, Li Y, Lan J, Wong G. A mRNA Vaccine for Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus Expressing Non-Fusion GnGc Using NSm Linker Elicits Unexpected Immune Responses in Mice. Viruses 2024; 16:378. [PMID: 38543744 PMCID: PMC10975845 DOI: 10.3390/v16030378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 02/03/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF), caused by Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic virus (CCHFV), is listed in the World Health Organization's list of priority diseases. The high fatality rate in humans, the widespread distribution of CCHFV, and the lack of approved specific vaccines are the primary concerns regarding this disease. We used microfluidic technology to optimize the mRNA vaccine delivery system and demonstrated that vaccination with nucleoside-modified CCHFV mRNA vaccines encoding GnNSmGc (vLMs), Gn (vLMn), or Gc (vLMc) induced different immune responses. We found that both T-cell and B-cell immune responses induced by vLMc were better than those induced by vLMn. Interestingly, immune responses were found to be lower for vLMs, which employed NSm to link Gn and Gc for non-fusion expression, compared to those for vLMc. In conclusion, our results indicated that NSm could be a factor that leads to decreased specific immune responses in the host and should be avoided in the development of CCHFV vaccine antigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tong Chen
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Research Unit, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology & Immunology, Shanghai Institute of Immunity and Infection (Formerly Institut Pasteur of Shanghai), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China (X.L.)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Zhe Ding
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Research Unit, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology & Immunology, Shanghai Institute of Immunity and Infection (Formerly Institut Pasteur of Shanghai), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China (X.L.)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xuejie Li
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Research Unit, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology & Immunology, Shanghai Institute of Immunity and Infection (Formerly Institut Pasteur of Shanghai), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China (X.L.)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yingwen Li
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Research Unit, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology & Immunology, Shanghai Institute of Immunity and Infection (Formerly Institut Pasteur of Shanghai), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China (X.L.)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jiaming Lan
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Research Unit, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology & Immunology, Shanghai Institute of Immunity and Infection (Formerly Institut Pasteur of Shanghai), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China (X.L.)
| | - Gary Wong
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Research Unit, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology & Immunology, Shanghai Institute of Immunity and Infection (Formerly Institut Pasteur of Shanghai), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China (X.L.)
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Tang HP, He YP, Wang J, Zhan JM, Lian WB, Xue F, Wang L, Li Y, Zhang A, Zhang F, Xu C, Li J, Xu WX. Epitope delimitation: A new method for defining epitopes of human IgG-reactive antigenic peptides based on rabbit-recognized epitope motifs. J Med Virol 2024; 96:e29388. [PMID: 38235845 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.29388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
The use of precise epitope peptides as antigens is essential for accurate serological diagnosis of viral-infected individuals, but now it remains an unsolvable problem for mapping precise B cell epitopes (BCEs) recognized by human serum. To address this challenge, we propose a novel epitope delimitation (ED) method to uncover BCEs in the delineated human IgG-reactive (HR) antigenic peptides (APs). Specifically, the method based on the rationale of similarities in humoral immune responses between mammalian species consists of a pair of elements: experimentally delineated HR-AP and rabbit-recognized (RR) BCE motif and corresponding pair of sequence alignment analysis. As a result of using the ED approach, after decoding four RR-epitomes of human papillomavirus types 16/18-E6 and E7 proteins utilizing rabbit serum against each recombinant protein and sequence alignment analysis of HR-APs and RR-BCEs, 19 fine BCEs in 17 of 22 known HR-APs were defined based on each corresponding RR-BCE motifs, including the type-specificity of each delimited BCE in homologous proteins. The test with 22 known 16/20mer HR-APs demonstrated that the ED method is effective and efficient, indicating that it can be used as an alternative method to the conventional identification of fine BCEs using overlapping 8mer peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai-Ping Tang
- NHC Key Lab of Reproduction Regulation, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Reproductive Health Drug and Devices, Shanghai Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, Shanghai, China
| | - Ya-Ping He
- NHC Key Lab of Reproduction Regulation, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Reproductive Health Drug and Devices, Shanghai Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, Shanghai, China
| | - Jian Wang
- NHC Key Lab of Reproduction Regulation, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Reproductive Health Drug and Devices, Shanghai Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, Shanghai, China
| | - Jian-Min Zhan
- NHC Key Lab of Reproduction Regulation, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Reproductive Health Drug and Devices, Shanghai Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, Shanghai, China
| | - Wen-Bo Lian
- NHC Key Lab of Reproduction Regulation, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Reproductive Health Drug and Devices, Shanghai Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, Shanghai, China
| | - Feng Xue
- Department of Histo-Embryology Genetics and Developmental Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Li Wang
- Department of Histo-Embryology Genetics and Developmental Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yijie Li
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Biological Resources and Genetic Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, China
| | - Ailian Zhang
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Biological Resources and Genetic Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, China
| | - Fuchun Zhang
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Biological Resources and Genetic Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, China
| | - Chen Xu
- Department of Histo-Embryology Genetics and Developmental Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jinyao Li
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Biological Resources and Genetic Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, China
| | - Wan-Xiang Xu
- NHC Key Lab of Reproduction Regulation, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Reproductive Health Drug and Devices, Shanghai Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, Shanghai, China
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Rodriguez SE, Hawman DW, Sorvillo TE, O'Neal TJ, Bird BH, Rodriguez LL, Bergeron É, Nichol ST, Montgomery JM, Spiropoulou CF, Spengler JR. Immunobiology of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever. Antiviral Res 2022; 199:105244. [PMID: 35026307 PMCID: PMC9245446 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2022.105244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Human infection with Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV), a tick-borne pathogen in the family Nairoviridae, can result in a spectrum of outcomes, ranging from asymptomatic infection through mild clinical signs to severe or fatal disease. Studies of CCHFV immunobiology have investigated the relationship between innate and adaptive immune responses with disease severity, attempting to elucidate factors associated with differential outcomes. In this article, we begin by highlighting unanswered questions, then review current efforts to answer them. We discuss in detail current clinical studies and research in laboratory animals on CCHF, including immune targets of infection and adaptive and innate immune responses. We summarize data about the role of the immune response in natural infections of animals and humans and experimental studies in vitro and in vivo and from evaluating immune-based therapies and vaccines, and present recommendations for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio E Rodriguez
- Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA; Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - David W Hawman
- Laboratory of Virology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, USA
| | - Teresa E Sorvillo
- Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA; Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA; One Health Institute, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - T Justin O'Neal
- Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Brian H Bird
- Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; One Health Institute, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Luis L Rodriguez
- Foreign Animal Disease Research Unit, Plum Island Animal Disease Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Orient Point, New York, USA
| | - Éric Bergeron
- Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
| | - Stuart T Nichol
- Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Joel M Montgomery
- Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Christina F Spiropoulou
- Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Jessica R Spengler
- Viral Special Pathogens Branch, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.
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Serretiello E, Astorri R, Chianese A, Stelitano D, Zannella C, Folliero V, Santella B, Galdiero M, Franci G, Galdiero M. The emerging tick-borne Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus: A narrative review. Travel Med Infect Dis 2020; 37:101871. [PMID: 32891725 DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2020.101871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2019] [Revised: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) is an increasingly relevant viral zoonosis caused by the negative-sense single-stranded (ss) RNA Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever Orthonairovirus (CCHFV) (Nairoviridae family, Bunyavirales order). The viral genome is divided into three segments (L-M-S) of distinct size and functions. The infection is generally mediated by a tick vector, in particular belonging to the Hyalomma genus, and the transmission follows a tick-vertebrate-tick ecologic cycle, with asymptomatic infected animals functioning as reservoirs and amplifiers for CCHFV. Human hosts could be infected primarily through infected ticks or by contact with infected hosts or their body fluids and tissues, also in a nosocomial way and in occupational contexts. Infected symptomatic patients generally manifest a nonspecific illness, which progresses across four stages, with possibly lethal outcomes. Disease outbreaks show a widespread geographic diffusion and a highly variable mortality rate, dramatically peaking in untreated patients. The lack of an adequate animal model and the elevated virus biological risk (only manageable under biosafety level 4 conditions) represent strongly limiting factors for a better characterization of the disease and for the development of specific therapies and vaccines. The present review discusses updated information on CCHFV-related disease, including details about the virus (taxonomy, structure, life cycle, transmission modalities) and considering CCHF pathogenesis, epidemiology and current strategies (diagnostic, therapeutic and preventive).
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrica Serretiello
- Section of Microbiology and Virology, University Hospital Luigi Vanvitelli of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Roberta Astorri
- Department of Mental Health and Public Medicine, Infectious Diseases Unit, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy; Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Annalisa Chianese
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Debora Stelitano
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Carla Zannella
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Veronica Folliero
- Section of Microbiology and Virology, University Hospital Luigi Vanvitelli of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Biagio Santella
- Section of Microbiology and Virology, University Hospital Luigi Vanvitelli of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Marilena Galdiero
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Gianluigi Franci
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy; Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry "Scuola Medica Salernitana", University of Salerno, Baronissi (SA), Italy.
| | - Massimiliano Galdiero
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy.
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Structure and Characterization of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus GP38. J Virol 2020; 94:JVI.02005-19. [PMID: 31996434 PMCID: PMC7108853 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.02005-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Accepted: 01/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is a priority pathogen that poses a high risk to public health. Due to the high morbidity and mortality rates associated with CCHFV infection, there is an urgent need to develop medical countermeasures for disease prevention and treatment. CCHFV GP38, a secreted glycoprotein of unknown function unique to the Nairoviridae family, was recently shown to be the target of a protective antibody against CCHFV. Here, we present the crystal structure of GP38, which revealed a novel fold with distant homology to another CCHFV glycoprotein that is suggestive of a gene duplication event. We also demonstrate that antibody 13G8 protects STAT1-knockout mice against heterologous CCHFV challenge using a clinical isolate from regions where CCHFV is endemic. Collectively, these data advance our understanding of GP38 structure and antigenicity and should facilitate future studies investigating its function. Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is the causative agent of the most widespread tick-borne viral infection in humans. CCHFV encodes a secreted glycoprotein (GP38) of unknown function that is the target of a protective antibody. Here, we present the crystal structure of GP38 at a resolution of 2.5 Å, which revealed a novel fold primarily consisting of a 3-helix bundle and a β-sandwich. Sequence alignment and homology modeling showed distant homology between GP38 and the ectodomain of Gn (a structural glycoprotein in CCHFV), suggestive of a gene duplication event. Analysis of convalescent-phase sera showed high titers of GP38 antibodies indicating immunogenicity in humans during natural CCHFV infection. The only protective antibody for CCHFV in an adult mouse model reported to date, 13G8, bound GP38 with subnanomolar affinity and protected against heterologous CCHFV challenge in a STAT1-knockout mouse model. Our data strongly suggest that GP38 should be evaluated as a vaccine antigen and that its structure provides a foundation to investigate functions of this protein in the viral life cycle. IMPORTANCE Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is a priority pathogen that poses a high risk to public health. Due to the high morbidity and mortality rates associated with CCHFV infection, there is an urgent need to develop medical countermeasures for disease prevention and treatment. CCHFV GP38, a secreted glycoprotein of unknown function unique to the Nairoviridae family, was recently shown to be the target of a protective antibody against CCHFV. Here, we present the crystal structure of GP38, which revealed a novel fold with distant homology to another CCHFV glycoprotein that is suggestive of a gene duplication event. We also demonstrate that antibody 13G8 protects STAT1-knockout mice against heterologous CCHFV challenge using a clinical isolate from regions where CCHFV is endemic. Collectively, these data advance our understanding of GP38 structure and antigenicity and should facilitate future studies investigating its function.
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Fine epitope mapping of glycoprotein Gn in Guertu virus. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0223978. [PMID: 31618247 PMCID: PMC6795428 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0223978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2019] [Accepted: 10/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Guertu virus (GTV) is a tick-borne phleboviruses (TBPVs) which belongs to the genus Banyangvirus in the family of Phenuiviridae. In vitro and in vivo studies of GTV demonstrated that it was able to infect animal and human cell lines and could cause pathological lesions in mice. Glycoproteins (GP, including Gn and Gc) on the surface of Guertu virus (GTV) could bind to receptors on host cells and induce protective immunity in the host, but knowledge is now lacking on the information of B cell epitopes (BCEs) present on GTV-GP protein. The aim of this study was to identify all BCEs on Gn of the GTV DXM strain using rabbit pAbs against GTV-Gn. Seven fine BCEs and two antigenic peptides (APs) from nine reactive 16mer-peptides were identified, which are EGn1 (2PIICEGLTHS11), EGn2 (135CSQDSGT141), EGn3 (165IP EDVF170), EGn4 (169VFQEL K174), EGn5 (187IDGILFN193), EGn6 (223QTKWIQ228), EGn7 (237CHKDGIGPC245), AP-8 (299GVRVRPKCYGFSRMMA314) and AP-9 (355CASH FCSSAESGKKNT370), of which six of mapped BCEs were recognized by the IgG-positive sheep serum obtained from sheep GTV-infected naturally. Multiple sequence alignments (MSA) based on each mapped BCE motif identified that the most of identified BCEs and APs are highly conserved among 10 SFTSV strains from different countries and lineages that share relatively close evolutionary relationships with GTV. The fine epitope mapping of the GTV-Gn would provide basic data with which to explore the GTV-Gn antigen structure and pathogenic mechanisms, and it could lay the foundation for the design and development of a GTV multi-epitope peptide vaccine and detection antigen.
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Fine mapping epitope on glycoprotein Gc from Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis 2019; 67:101371. [PMID: 31627038 DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2019.101371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2019] [Revised: 10/08/2019] [Accepted: 10/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a tick-borne zoonosis, caused by CCHF virus (CCHFV) and which there are no diagnostic or therapeutic strategies. The C-terminus of glycoprotein (Gc) encoded by the CCHFV M gene is responsible for CCHFV binding to cellular receptors and acts as a neutralizing-antibody target. In this study, a modified biosynthetic peptide technique (BSP) was used to identify fine epitopes of Gc from the CCHFV YL04057 strain using rabbit antiserum against CCHFV-Gc. Six B cell epitopes (BCEs) and one antigenic peptide (AP) were identified: E1 (88VEDASES94), E2 (117GDRQVEE123), E3 (241EIVTLH246), AP-4 (281DFQVYHVGNLLRGDKV296), E5a (370GDTP QLDL377), E5b (373PQLDLKAR380), and E6 (443HVRSSD448). Western blotting analysis showed that each epitope interacted with the positive serum of sheep that had been naturally infected with CCHFV, and the results were consistent with that of Dot-ELISA. The multiple sequence alignment (MSA) revealed high conservation of the identified epitopes among ten CCHFV strains from different areas, except for epitopes AP-4 and E6. Furthermore, three-dimensional structural modeling showed that all identified epitopes were located on the surface of the Gc "head" domain. These mapped epitopes of the CCHFV Gc would provide a basis for further increase our understanding CCHFV glycoprotein function and the development of a CCHFV epitope-based diagnostics vaccine and detection antigen.
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