Detection of IgG directed against a recombinant form of Epstein-Barr virus BALF0/1 protein in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Protein Expr Purif. 2019 Oct:162:44-50. doi: 10.1016/j.pep.2019.05.010. Epub 2019 May 28.

Abstract

BALF0/1 is a putative Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) protein that has been described as a modulator of apoptosis. So far, the lack of specific immunological reagents impaired the detection of native BALF0/1 in EBV-infected cells. This study describes the expression and purification of a truncated form of BALF0/1 (tBALF0) using a heterologous bacterial expression system. tBALF0 was further used as an antigen in an indirect Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) that unraveled the presence of low titer IgGs to BALF0/1 during primary (10.0%) and past (13.3%) EBV infection. Conversely high-titer IgGs to BALF0/1 were detected in 33.3% of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients suggesting that BALF0/1 and/or humoral response against it may contribute to NPC pathogenesis.

Keywords: BALF0/1; ELISA; Epstein-Barr virus; Nasopharyngeal carcinoma; Recombinant protein.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Viral / blood*
  • Antibodies, Viral / immunology
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / blood*
  • Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / virology
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human / genetics
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Humoral
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood*
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology
  • Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma / blood*
  • Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma / virology
  • Viral Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Proteins / immunology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • BALF1 protein, Epstein-Barr virus
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Viral Proteins