RT Journal Article
T1 Biochemical and functional analysis of smallpox growth factor (SPGF) and anti-SPGF monoclonal antibodies
A1 Kim, Mikyung
A1 Yang, Hailin
A1 Kim, Sung-Kwon
A1 Reche Gallardo, Pedro Antonio
A1 Tirabassi, Rebecca S
A1 Hussey, Rebecca E
A1 Chishti, Yasmin
A1 Rheinwald, James G
A1 Morehead, Tiara J
A1 Zech, Tobias
A1 Damon, Inger K
A1 Welsh, Raymond M
A1 Reinherz, Ellis L
AB Variola, the causative agent of smallpox, is a highly infectious double-stranded DNA virus of the orthopox genus that replicates within the cytoplasm of infected cells. For unknown reasons prominent skin manifestations, including "pox," mark the course of this systemic human disease. Here we characterized smallpox growth factor (SPGF), a protein containing an epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like domain that is conserved among orthopox viral genomes, and investigated its possible mechanistic link. We show that after recombinant expression, refolding, and purification, the EGF domain of SPGF binds exclusively to the broadly expressed cellular receptor, erb-B1 (EGF receptor), with subnanomolar affinity, stimulating the growth of primary human keratinocytes and fibroblasts. High affinity monoclonal antibodies specific for SPGF reveal in vivo immunoprotection in a murine vaccinia pneumonia model by a mechanism distinct from viral neutralization. These findings suggest that blockade of pathogenic factor actions, in general, may be advantageous to the infected host.
PB American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
SN 0021-9258
YR 2004
FD 2004
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/50389
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/50389
LA eng
DS Docta Complutense
RD 18 abr 2025