Identification and characterization of a novel nanobody against duck hepatitis A virus type 1

Duck virus hepatitis (DVH) caused by duck hepatitis A virus type 1 (DHAV-1) is an acute and highly contagious disease affecting young ducklings. The VP1 protein is one of the major structural proteins of DHAV-1 carries critical epitopes responsible for the induction of neutralizing antibodies. In this study, we have successfully constructed an immune phage display VHHs library against DHAV-1 with the size of 6 × 106 colonies. A nanobody (Nb) against VP1 protein of DHAV-1, named Nb25, was identified from the immunized phage display library. Nb25 could react with the conserved linear B-cell epitope of 174PAPTST179 in DHAV-1 VP1, even though Nb25 showed no neutralizing activity to DHAV-1. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report about preparation of anti-DHAV-1 Nbs and identification of the specific conserved linear B-cell epitope of DHAV-1 with Nb, which will facilitate the serologic diagnosis of DHAV-1 infection. •A specific Nb against DHAV-1 VP1 protein is successfully produced.•Nb25 has good binding activity and specificity with DHAV-1 VP1.•A linear epitope of DHAV-1 was recognized by Nb25.•The epitope of 174PAPTST179 in VP1 was conserved among different DHAV-1 strains.