Analysis of the Yersinia pestis V protein for the presence of linear antibody epitopes.

The V protein expressed by pathogenic Yersinia pestis is an important virulence factor and protective immunogen. The presence of linear B-cell epitopes in the V protein was investigated by using a series of 17 overlapping linear peptides. Groups of 10 mice were immunized intraperitoneally with 30 microg of each peptide on days 0, 30, and 60. Although the V protein-specific antibody response to the peptides varied, most of the peptides elicited high antibody titers. The immunized mice were challenged subcutaneously with 60 50% lethal doses (LD50) (1 LD50 = 1.9 CFU) of a virulent Y. pestis strain, CO92. None of the peptide-immunized mice survived challenge. The animals immunized with the V protein were completely protected against challenge. The immunogenicity of some of the V peptides was increased by conjugating them to keyhole limpet hemocyanin. Only one peptide (encompassing amino acids 1 to 30) conjugate demonstrated some protection; the others were not protective. In additional experiments, V peptides that reacted well with sera from mice surviving Y. pestis infection were combined and used to immunize mice. Although the combined peptides appeared to be very immunogenic, they were not protective. Therefore, the protective B-lymphocyte epitope(s) in the V protein is most likely to be conformational.