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Merkel Cell Polyomavirus Infection and Detection
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Merkel Cell Polyomavirus Infection and Detection

Published on: February 7, 2019

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Serological cross-reactivity between Merkel cell polyomavirus and two closely related chimpanzee polyomaviruses

Jérôme T J Nicol1, Etienne Liais1, Romain Potier2

  • 1Université François Rabelais, Virologie Immunologie Moléculaires, Tours, France; INRA UMR 1282, Infectiologie et Santé Publique, Tours, France.

Plos One
|May 13, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) and related simian polyomaviruses show significant cross-reactivity. Antibodies to chimpanzee polyomaviruses were found in chimpanzee sera but not human sera.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Immunology
  • Comparative genomics

Background:

  • Phylogenetic analysis reveals close evolutionary relationships between Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) and chimpanzee polyomaviruses (PtvPyV1, PtvPyV2).
  • Similarly, Trichodysplasia spinulosa-associated polyomavirus (TSPyV) is closely related to the orangutan polyomavirus (OraPyV1).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the serological cross-reactivity between these closely related polyomaviruses.
  • To determine the presence of specific antibodies in primate sera against these polyomaviruses.

Main Methods:

  • Phylogenetic analysis of major capsid protein sequences.
  • Serological cross-reactivity assays using different polyomavirus antigens.
  • Antibody detection in chimpanzee and human sera via pre-incubation assays.

Main Results:

  • High serological cross-reactivity was observed between MCPyV and the two chimpanzee polyomaviruses (PtvPyV1, PtvPyV2).
  • No cross-reactivity was detected between TSPyV and OraPyV1.
  • Specific antibodies to chimpanzee polyomaviruses were identified in chimpanzee sera, but not in human sera.

Conclusions:

  • MCPyV and chimpanzee polyomaviruses exhibit significant serological cross-reactivity, suggesting potential shared epitopes.
  • TSPyV and OraPyV1 do not show cross-reactivity, indicating distinct antigenic properties.
  • The findings highlight species-specific antibody responses to simian polyomaviruses.

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