Abstract:

Abstract Objective To predict B/Th cell epitopes on Hemagglutinin(HA) of avian influenza virus (H7N7) and evaluate antigenicity of the candidate epitopes.Methods The HA amino acid sequences of AIV(H7N7) which were prevalent recently ,were downloaded from GeneBank. The Th/B cell epitopes were predicted and analyzed by bioinformatics methods.Then ,antigenicity of the candidate epitopes was identified by AIV (H7)positive serum samples.Results Five B/Th cell epitopes containing HA were acquired.HA165~178，HA180~193，HA241~255 epitopes which were analyzed by indirect ELISA method were on a relatively conserved domain,and a deal of AIV(H7N7) contained the sequences.Moreover,the candidate epitopes were showed with a distinct antibody combining reactivity with the H7 HA positive serum,which inferred the predicted epitopes to be functional ones.Conclusion The selected epitopes are able to be functional HA B/Th cell epitopes of AIV(H7N7) .Our study also establishes the foundations for the recognition of AIV (H7N7) functional epitopes and the development of epitope vaccines.