West Nile Virus Envelope Antibody

West Nile Virus Envelope Antibody: West Nile Virus (WNV) is a member of the Flaviviridae, a plus-stranded virus family that includes St. Louis encephalitis virus, yellow fever virus, and Dengue virus. WNV was initially isolated in 1937 in the West Nile region of Uganda and has become prevalent in Africa, Asia, and Europe. It has rapidly spread across the United States with cases being observed in every continental state. Virus particles consist of a dense core made up of the core/capsid protein encapsulating the RNA genome surrounded by a membrane envelope embedded with envelope and matrix proteins. While the viral core protein is thought to contribute to the WNV-associated inflammation via apoptosis induced though the caspase-9 pathway, the highly glycosylated envelope protein plays a major role for WNV entry into target cells as this entry can be inhibited by using a recombinant domain III from the envelope glycoprotein. The WNV receptor has recently been identified as alpha v beta 3 integrin.

West Nile Virus Envelope antibody can be stored at 4˚ C for three months and -20˚ C, stable for up to one year. As with all antibodies care should be taken to avoid repeated freeze thaw cycles. Antibodies should not be exposed to prolonged high temperatures.

West Nile virus envelope antibody can be used for the detection of the West Nile virus envelope protein in ELISA. It will detect 10 ng of free peptide at 1 μ g/mL.

Yang JS, Ramanathan MP, Muthumani K, et al. Induction of inflammation by West Nile Virus capsid through the caspase-9 apoptotic pathway. Emerg. Infect. Dis. 2002; 8:1379-84.

Chu JJ, Rajamanonmani R, Li J, et al. Inhibition of West Nile virus entry by using a recombinant domain III from the envelope glycoprotein. J. Gen. Virol. 2005; 86:405-12.