[Identification of a protective epitope--a fragment of Lassa virus nucleoprotein]

Several peptides from Lassa virus glyco- and nucleoproteins were predicted as probable T-cell epitopes. Their synthesis was performed by solid phase method. The study of possible protective effect in vivo with Lassa-sensitive CBA mice revealed protective epitope within the 277-303 nucleoprotein region. Further studies reduced the protective epitope structure to the 287-300 nucleoprotein fragment.