Mumps Virus

Mumps Virus is the causative agent of mumps, a well-known common childhood disease causing high morbidity and in some cases more serious complications such as deafness. The virus is transmitted by direct contact, droplet spread, or contaminated objects.

Antigens

SERION Immunologics offers the native Mumps Virus Antigen - Premium (BA103VS-S) and the recombinant Mumps Virus Nucleoprotein (BA103R01).

The native antigen, Mumps Virus (strain Enders) is cultivated in Vero cells. After harvest, the virus is extracted by alkaline treatment and sonication. Following clarification, the suspension is purified and concentrated by ultra-centrifugation. The antigen is suitable for the detection of IgG and IgM antibodies against Mumps.

For the development of chemiluminescence immunoassays (CLIA), where antigens are usually immobilized by covalent coupling to reactive groups on microparticles or other solid phases, recombinant antigens are often the first choice. Although antigens purified from their native sources can be coupled successfully as well, recombinant antigens often show a better and more reliable performance in chemical coupling procedures. The recombinant Mumps Virus Nucleoprotein (BA103R01) is expressed in insect cells and highly purified by strep-tag affinity chromatography. It comprises the viral nucleoprotein, which is the most abundant of the viral proteins. Multiple copies bind the RNA and form the helical nucleocapsid [1]. Likewise, the recombinant nucleoprotein BA103R01 assembles in nucleocapsid-like particles about 20 nm in diameter. During infection, viral nucleoprotein is synthesized in the cytoplasm of infected cells and secreted [2]. In terms of immune response, the nucleocapsid can contribute to measles-induced immunosuppression [3], [4], but it is also a target for B- and T-cell responses [5]. Hence, nucleoprotein is very well suited for the application in infectious serology.

References

[1] S. Guseva, S. Milles, M. Blackledge, and R. W. H. Ruigrok, “The Nucleoprotein and Phosphoprotein of Measles Virus,” Front. Microbiol., vol. 10, p. 1832, Aug. 2019, doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.01832.

[2] J. C. Marie, F. Saltel, J.-M. Escola, P. Jurdic, T. F. Wild, and B. Horvat, “Cell surface delivery of the measles virus nucleoprotein: a viral strategy to induce immunosuppression,” J. Virol., vol. 78, no. 21, pp. 11952–11961, Nov. 2004, doi: 10.1128/JVI.78.21.11952-11961.2004.

[3] K. Ravanel et al., “Measles virus nucleocapsid protein binds to FcgammaRII and inhibits human B cell antibody production,” J. Exp. Med., vol. 186, no. 2, pp. 269–278, Jul. 1997, doi: 10.1084/jem.186.2.269.

[4] J. C. Marie et al., “Mechanism of measles virus-induced suppression of inflammatory immune responses,” Immunity, vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 69–79, Jan. 2001, doi: 10.1016/s1074-7613(01)00090-5.

[5] B. Bankamp, U. G. Brinckmann, A. Reich, S. Niewiesk, V. ter Meulen, and U. G. Liebert, “Measles virus nucleocapsid protein protects rats from encephalitis,” J. Virol., vol. 65, no. 4, pp. 1695–1700, Apr. 1991, doi: 10.1128/JVI.65.4.1695-1700.1991.