%0 Journal Article
%T Analysis of Virus-Specific B Cell Epitopes Reveals Extensive Antigen Degradation Prior to Recognition.
%A Ras-Carmona A
%A Reche PA
%J Cells
%V 13
%N 13
%D 2024 Jun 21
%M 38994930
%F 7.666
%R 10.3390/cells13131076
%X B cell epitopes must be visible for recognition by cognate B cells and/or antibodies. Here, we studied that premise for known linear B cell epitopes that were collected from the Immune Epitope Database as being recognized by humans during microbial infections. We found that the majority of such known B cell epitopes are virus-specific linear B cell epitopes (87.96%), and most are located in antigens that remain enclosed in host cells and/or virus particles, preventing antibody recognition (18,832 out of 29,225 epitopes). Moreover, we estimated that only a minority (32.72%) of the virus-specific linear B cell epitopes that are found in exposed viral regions (e.g., the ectodomains of envelope proteins) are solvent accessible on intact antigens. Hence, we conclude that ample degradation/processing of viral particles and/or infected cells must occur prior to B cell recognition, thus shaping the B cell epitope repertoire.