Introduction: Houston/90 (Hou/90) is a human calicivirus (HuCV) strain in one of three clades of Sapporo-like HuCVs that cause acute gastroenteritis in children. The viral capsid gene of Hou/90 has been cloned and sequenced (Arch Virol, 1997; 142:1813). Methods: Hou/90 capsid was expressed in a baculovirus expression system and its antigenicity was determined by immunoprecipitation and enzyme immune assays (EIAs) using serum specimens from three children infected with Hou/90. Electron microscopy was used to examine the morphology of viral capsid. Results: Virus-like particles (VLPs) self-formed in insect cells infected with the recombinant baculovirus containing the Hou/90 capsid gene. The VLPs were empty and contained a single capsid protein with a molecular weight of 60 KD. When used as antigen, the Hou/90 VLPs detected seroresponses of children infected with Hou/90 in an EIA and by immunoprecipitation. Hou/90 VLPs were not detected by EIAs specific for Norwalk, MX and prototype Sapporo/82 strains. Conclusion: Hou/90 VLPs are distinct antigenically from strains belonging to different HuCV genera and Sapporo-like clades. Availability of unlimited amounts of the recombinant baculovirus Hou/90 capsid will allow development of diagnostic assays for clinical and epidemiological studies of the strain.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This study was supported by the U.S. Public Health Service grants (HD-13021-16, AI-28855, and AI/HD 37093) and the Jeffress Research Grant Foundation (J-357).
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jiang, X., Kaplan, M., Zhong, W. et al. Baculovirus-expressed Sapporo-like calicivirus capsid self-assembles into virus-like particles (VLPs) and can be used to detect antibody in children† 854. Pediatr Res 43 (Suppl 4), 148 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199804001-00875
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199804001-00875