Mapping of linear B cell epitopes on open reading frames 2- and 3-encoded proteins of hepatitis E virus using synthetic peptides.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the causative agent of non-A, non-B hepatitis which is transmitted by the fecal-oral route and occurs principally in the form of large epidemics and outbreaks in developing countries. Two overlapping synthetic peptides corresponding to overlapping DNA sequences of the ORF 3 of HEV genome were found to be immunoreactive with sera from patients involved in two epidemics of enterically transmitted non-A, non-B hepatitis. The results suggested the existence of two distinct epitopes. The four synthetic peptides representing these two epitopes from Burma and Mexico strains of hepatitis E virus, were used to investigate anti-HEV reactivities. HEV antibodies were detected in 84-88% of HEV-infected individuals according to the peptide used. The results suggest that a peptide-based ELISA can provide an accurate tool for the diagnosis of acute hepatitis type E.