Identification of a novel linear B-cell epitope located on the regulator of virion expression protein of equine infectious anemia virus.

Abstract

Equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) is a lentivirus that infects equids worldwide, causing significant economic losses to the equine industry, and serves as an important model for lentivirus research. EIAV encodes the regulator of virion expression (Rev) protein, which mediates viral RNA nuclear export and is essential for viral replication. However, the structure and function of EIAV Rev remain poorly characterized. To better define these features, we successfully expressed the EIAV Rev protein and generated a specific monoclonal antibody (mAb), designated 6B11, which recognizes the linear epitope 21DKRRNNWWKI30. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that this epitope exhibits a high antigenic index and is relatively conserved, as evidenced by the broad cross-reactivity of mAb 6B11 with Rev proteins from diverse EIAV strains. These results provide valuable insights into the structural features of the EIAV Rev protein, establishing a foundation for fundamental virological studies and supporting the development of diagnostic tools for EIAV detection.