E1 glycoprotein of rubella virus carries an epitope that binds a neutralizing antibody.

We identified by immunoprecipitation and Western blot analysis, using a monoclonal antibody that neutralizes rubella virus, that E1 glycoprotein carries an epitope linked with neutralization. Glycosidase treatment of virus does not prevent blotting of this monoclonal antibody with the E1 glycoprotein, dissociating this epitope from the hemagglutination epitope which is linked with the oligosaccharide side chains. We also investigated by Western blot analysis human serum reactivity toward E1 glycoprotein and the two other structural proteins of rubella virus, E2 and C: all positive sera detected E1 and C, irrespective of their titers, indicating the importance of glycoprotein E1 in immunity. Frequent lack of reactivity against E2 might suggest that this glycoprotein is either less exposed or less immunogenic.