Peptide from the glycoprotein B from human herpesvirus 7 for use in a serological ELISA test

Abstract

The invention concerns an immunogenic peptide comprising at least six consecutive amino acids of a hydrophilic region of the glycoprotein B (gB) of the human herpesvirus-7 (HIV-7), and reacting specifically with antibodies directed against HHV-7, and diagnosis kit containing it.

1 . A method for serologically detecting human herpesvirus 7 (HHV-7) in a biological sample comprising: 
 (a)contacting said biological sample with a peptide comprising at least six consecutive amino acids from a hydrophilic region of the glycoprotein B (gB) of human herpesvirus 7 (HHV-7) and reacting in a specific manner with antibodies directed against HHV-7, wherein said immunogenic peptide consists essentially of the peptide sequence: Leu-Ser-Ser-Ile-Ser-Val-Lys-Arg-Ser-Glu-Glu-Glu-Glu-Tyr-Val-Ala-Tyr-His-Lys-Asp-Glu-Tyr-Val-Asn (SEQ ID NO: 1) or a peptide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, which is modified by conservative substitution(s) which do not alter the immunological reactivity of said peptide; and    (b) detecting the binding of said peptide with antibodies present in said biological sample.    
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said detecting step (b) is carried out using an ELISA test, by chemiluminescence, by fixing onto a mirco- or macro-array support, by immunofluoresence, by radio-immunolabeling, by agglutination or by haemagglutination.  
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said biological sample is human serum.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said peptide sequence consists essentially of the sequence Arg-Ser-Glu-Glu-Glu (SEQ ID No: 2).  
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said peptide consists essentially of the sequence Ser-Val-Lys-Arg-Ser-Glu-Glu-Glu-Glu-Tyr-Val-Ala (SEQ ID NO: 3); or a peptide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 which is modified by conservative modification|(s) that do not alter the immunological reactivity of said peptide.  
     
     
         6 . The method to  claim 1 , wherein said peptide comprises 15 to 25 amino acids.  
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said peptide further comprises one or more terminal amino acids that are heterologous to gB, which do not alter the immunological reactivity of said peptide.