Monoclonal antibodies to lymphocytic choriomeningitis and pichinde viruses: generation, characterization, and cross-reactivity with other arenaviruses

MJ Buchmeier, HA Lewicki, O Tomori, MBA Oldstone - Virology, 1981 - Elsevier
MJ Buchmeier, HA Lewicki, O Tomori, MBA Oldstone
Virology, 1981Elsevier
Hybridoma cell lines producing monoclonal antibodies to lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus
(LCMV) have been established by fusion of spleen cells from immunized mice with P3× 63
Ag8 mouse plasmacytoma cells. Cultures producing antibody to each of the major virus-
specific polypeptides, NP, GP-1, and GP-2 were characterized by immunofluorescence,
immune precipitation, and virus neutralization as well as by cross-reactivity with
heterologous arenaviruses. Antibodies reacting either with viral GP-1 or GP-2 also …
Abstract
Hybridoma cell lines producing monoclonal antibodies to lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) have been established by fusion of spleen cells from immunized mice with P3 × 63 Ag8 mouse plasmacytoma cells. Cultures producing antibody to each of the major virus-specific polypeptides, NP, GP-1, and GP-2 were characterized by immunofluorescence, immune precipitation, and virus neutralization as well as by cross-reactivity with heterologous arenaviruses. Antibodies reacting either with viral GP-1 or GP-2 also precipitated the cell-associated precursor glycopeptide, GP-C. Anti-GP-1 antibodies had virus-neutralizing activity comparable with that of guinea pig antibody to LCMV while a single anti-GP-2 antibody neutralized poorly. No neutralizing activity was seen using antibody to NP. Studies of serologic cross-reactivity among LCMV substrains and between LCMV and heterologous arenaviruses were done. Three antiglycoprotein antibodies were capable of distinguishing between the Armstrong and WE substrains of virus and six additional anti-GP antibodies reacted with determinants shared by both viruses. Cross-reactivity studies performed using heterologous virus infected target cells demonstrated five monoclonal anti-NP antibodies which reacted with both Lassa and Mozambique viruses and a single anti-GP-2 antibody which reacted only with the Mozambique agent. Five of six monoclonal antibodies to Pichinde virus were not cross reactive with LCMV but three of these five antibodies cross-reacted with heterologous Tacaribe group arenaviruses. One additional antibody to the NP of Pichinde virus cross-reacted both with heterologous Tacaribe group viruses and with the Old World viruses LCMV and Lassa. These antibodies will be a useful tool for the study of host-virus interactions during acute and persistent arenavirus infections and will aid in elucidating the evolutionary relationships that exist among arenaviruses.
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