Detection of Neutralization-sensitive Epitopes in Antigens Displayed on Virus-Like Particle (VLP)-Based Vaccines Using a Capture AssayJamila Franca Rosengarten *1,2, Stefanie Schatz *1,2, Jörn Stitz 1
1Research Group Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, TH Köln - University of Applied Sciences, 2Institute of Technical Chemistry, Leibniz University Hannover
Here, we present a protocol to detect neutralization epitopes on antigen-displaying virus-like particles (VLPs). Immunoprecipitation of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-derived VLPs is performed using envelope glycoproteins-specific monoclonal antibodies coupled to protein G-conjugated magnetic beads. Captured VLPs are subsequently subjected to SDS-PAGE and Western blot-analysis employing viral core protein Gag-specific antibodies.