Antibody against synthetic multiple antigen peptides (MAP) of JC virus capsid protein (VP1) without cross reaction to BK virus: a diagnostic tool for progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy☆

Abstract Antibody against JC virus (JCV) was raised in rabbits with the use of synthetic multiple antigen peptides. The peptide sequences were derived from three regions of JCV VP1 protein, which showed less similarity with BK virus (BKV) counterpart. The antibodies raised with these peptides were designated as JCAb1, 2 and 3. JCAb1 specifically reacted with JCV and not with BKV, while JCAb2 and 3 reacted both with JCV and BKV. All of these antibodies reacted with JCV antigen of formalin-fixed paraffin sections of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) brain tissue. As JCAb1 is JCV-specific and reacted with JCV in formalin-fixed paraffin sections, it will contribute not only to rapid and accurate immunohistochemical diagnoses of PML but also to clarification of the pathogenesis of JCV infection.