Epitope Mapping of the Major Epstein-Barr Virus Outer Envelope Glycoprotein gp350/220

* Immunovirology Research Group, Department of Microbiology, Health Sciences Building, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7N 0W0 To understand the complete immunochemical structure of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) major membrane glycoprotein gp350/220, monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) reacting with this important viral antigen were isolated. Through competitive inhibition binding studies, it was determined that a group of 18 IgG MAbs recognized seven distinct epitopes on the gp350/220 molecule. Eight of these MAbs fell into a single epitope group with four of those MAbs, as well as a single MAb from another epitope group, being capable of neutralizing EBV strain B95-8 transformation of umbilical cord lymphocytes. Keywords: epitope mapping, EBV, envelope glycoprotein gp350, 220 Received 11 July 1986; accepted 1 October 1986.