Viable poliovirus chimeras expressing HIV-1 epitopes require the modified loop to occupy a similar volume to the original antigenic site 1 loop.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Loop volume similarity may constrain chimera viability; leaves open translation to HIV epitope vaccine design.
We have used laboratory-based molecular modelling to identify structural features of antigen chimaeras of poliovirus expressing epitopes from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) that may affect virus viability. Chimaeras were constructed by replacement of antigenic site 1 of VP1 by sequences corresponding to epitopes from HIV-1. Loop volume, estimated by approximating the loop to an ellipsoid was significantly (P less than 0.001) lower in viable (2062.1 A3 +/- 400.2) than in non-viable (3617 A3 +/- 650.7) constructs. Our results suggest that viable virus will only be formed when antigen chimeras modified at antigenic site of VP1 have a loop occupying a similar volume in space to that occupied by the antigenic site 1 loop. In addition, the modified loop must fit with the peptide bond angles and distances at the top of the beta-barrel of VP1.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Crabbe et al. (1990) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 10 related papers. Consider them for comparative context: