Rhinovirus-induced VP1-specific Antibodies are Group-specific and Associated With Severity of Respiratory Symptoms
Katarzyna Niespodziana,
Clarissa R. Cabauatan,
David J. Jackson,
Daniela Gallerano,
Belen Trujillo-Torralbo,
Ajerico del Rosario,
Patrick Mallia,
Rudolf Valenta,
Sebastian L. Johnston
Affiliations
Katarzyna Niespodziana
Division of Immunopathology, Department of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
Clarissa R. Cabauatan
Division of Immunopathology, Department of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
David J. Jackson
Airway Disease Infection Section, National Heart & Lung Institute, Imperial College London, UK
Daniela Gallerano
Division of Immunopathology, Department of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
Belen Trujillo-Torralbo
Airway Disease Infection Section, National Heart & Lung Institute, Imperial College London, UK
Ajerico del Rosario
Airway Disease Infection Section, National Heart & Lung Institute, Imperial College London, UK
Patrick Mallia
Airway Disease Infection Section, National Heart & Lung Institute, Imperial College London, UK
Rudolf Valenta
Division of Immunopathology, Department of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
Sebastian L. Johnston
Airway Disease Infection Section, National Heart & Lung Institute, Imperial College London, UK
Background: Rhinoviruses (RVs) are a major cause of common colds and induce exacerbations of asthma and chronic inflammatory lung diseases. Methods: We expressed and purified recombinant RV coat proteins VP1-4, non-structural proteins as well as N-terminal fragments of VP1 from four RV strains (RV14, 16, 89, C) covering the three known RV groups (RV-A, RV-B and RV-C) and measured specific IgG-subclass-, IgA- and IgM-responses by ELISA in subjects with different severities of asthma or without asthma before and after experimental infection with RV16. Findings: Before infection subjects showed IgG1 > IgA > IgM > IgG3 cross-reactivity with N-terminal fragments from the representative VP1 proteins of the three RV groups. Antibody levels were higher in the asthmatic group as compared to the non-asthmatic subjects. Six weeks after infection with RV16, IgG1 antibodies showed a group-specific increase towards the N-terminal VP1 fragment, but not towards other capsid and non-structural proteins, which was highest in subjects with severe upper and lower respiratory symptoms. Interpretation: Our results demonstrate that increases of antibodies towards the VP1 N-terminus are group-specific and associated with severity of respiratory symptoms and suggest that it may be possible to develop serological tests for identifying causative RV groups.
