Visualization by electron microscopy of the location of tobacco mosaic virus epitopes reacting with monoclonal antibodies in enzyme immunoassay

Conformational behavior of coat protein in plants and association with coat protein-mediated resistance against TMV

Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) coat protein (CP) self assembles in viral RNA deprived transgenic plants to form aggregates based on the physical conditions of the environment. Transgenic plants in which these aggregates are developed show resistance toward infection by TMV referred to as CP-MR. This phenomenon has been extensively used to protect transgenic plants against viral diseases. The mutants T42W and E50Q CP confer enhanced CP-MR as compared to the WT CP. The aggregates, when examined, show the presence of helical discs in the case of WT CP; on the other hand, mutants show the presence of highly stable non-helical long rods. These aggregates interfere with the accumulation of MP as well as with the disassembly of TMV in plant cells. Here, we explored an atomic level insight to the process of CP-MR through MD simulations. The subunit-subunit interactions were assessed with the help of MM-PBSA calculations. Moreover, classification of secondary structure elements of the protein also provided unambiguous information about the conformational changes occurring in the two chains, which indicated toward increased flexibility of the mutant protein and seconded the other results of simulations. Our finding indicates the essential structural changes caused by the mutation in CP subunits, which are critically responsible for CP-MR and provides an in silico insight into the effects of these transitions over CP-MR. These results could further be utilized to design TMV-CP-based small peptides that would be able to provide appropriate protection against TMV infection.

Antigenic properties of the coat of Cucumber mosaic virus using monoclonal antibodies

The coat protein (CP) of Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) was characterized by antigen-capture-ELISA using a panel of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) which were produced against Pepo-CMV-CP. Comparative analysis of three mAbs with four different strains by competitive ELISA revealed that the binding affinity of the mAb decreased about 10-fold with both MY17- and Y-CMV than with Pepo-CMV. The CP of these three strains showed high homology (approximately 98%) following comparison in the GenBank database. CMV has a negatively charged loop structure, the betaH-betaI loop, although the amino acid at position 193 is not conserved. In addition, an amino acid residue identified within the variable region spanning amino acids 191-198, specifically at position 194, showed significant changes in Threonine, Alanine, Alanine, and Lysine of the Pepo-, MY17-, Y-, and M2-CMV strains, respectively. Evidence from competitive ELISA and GenBank database amino acid residues, when taken together, provide strong support suggesting that the dominant epitope site of CMV-CP-specific mAbs is the betaH-betaI loop 191-198. The four mAbs were chosen because they represent distinct, overlapping epitopes within the group-specific determinant located on the CMV-CP and because they all recognize linear epitopes. Knowledge of specific immunoglobulin genes for a common epitope may lead to insight on pathogen-host co-evolution and may help prevent virus infection in plants.

Aggregation of TMV CP plays a role in CP functions and in coat-protein-mediated resistance

Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) coat protein (CP) in absence of RNA self-assembles into several different structures depending on pH and ionic strength. Transgenic plants that produce self-assembling CP are resistant to TMV infection, a phenomenon referred to as coat-protein-mediated resistance (CP-MR). The mutant CP Thr42Trp (CP(T42W)) produces enhanced CP-MR compared to wild-type CP. To establish the relationship between the formation of 20S CP aggregates and CP-MR, virus-like particles (VLPs) produced by TMV variants that yield high levels of CP-MR were characterized. We demonstrate that non-helical structures are found in VLPs formed in vivo by CP(T42W) but not by wild-type CP and suggest that the mutation shifts the intracellular equilibrium of aggregates from low to higher proportions of non-helical 20S aggregates. A similar shift in equilibrium of aggregates was observed with CP(D77R), another mutant that confers high level of CP-MR. The mutant CP(D50R) confers a level of CP-MR similar to wild-type CP and aggregates in a manner similar to wild-type CP. We conclude that increased CP-MR is correlated with a shift in intracellular equilibrium of CP aggregates, including aggregates that interfere with virus replication.

Rapid identification of a tobacco mosaic virus epitope by using a coat protein gene-fragment-pVIII fusion library

This study describes the identification of the epitope recognized by the tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) coat protein (CP)-specific monoclonal antibody 29 (MAb29) by displaying a CP gene-fragment library on pVIII of filamentous phage M13. More than 80% of the clones isolated after one round of panning bound specifically to MAb29. DNA sequencing of ten randomly chosen MAb29-specific clones and subsequent sequence comparison revealed a common seven amino acid epitope (ELIRGTG) representing amino acids 131-137 of the TMV CP. The reactivity of MAb29 in competition ELISA towards glutathione S:-transferase fused to this epitope was stronger than that towards full-length wild-type TMV CP, confirming the epitope sequence determined by gene-fragment phage display. This demonstrated that gene-fragment libraries displayed on the phage surface as fusion proteins with the filamentous bacteriophage gene VIII are useful tools for rapid identification of linear epitopes recognized by MAbs.

The antigenicity of tobacco mosaic virus

The antigenic properties of the tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) have been studied extensively for more than 50 years. Distinct antigenic determinants called neotopes and cryptotopes have been identified at the surface of intact virions and dissociated coat protein subunits, respectively, indicating that the quaternary structure of the virus influences the antigenic properties. A correlation has been found to exist between the location of seven to ten residue-long continuous epitopes in the TMV coat protein and the degree of segmental mobility along the polypeptide chain. Immunoelectron microscopy, using antibodies specific for the bottom surface of the protein subunit, showed that these antibodies reacted with both ends of the stacked-disk aggregates of viral protein. This finding indicates that the stacked disks are bipolar and cannot be converted directly into helical viral rods as has been previously assumed. TMV epitopes have been mapped at the surface of coat protein subunits using biosensor technology. The ability of certain monoclonal antibodies to block the cotranslational disassembly of virions during the infection process was found to be linked to the precise location of their complementary epitopes and not to their binding affinity. Such blocking antibodies, which act by sterically preventing the interaction between virions and ribosomes may, when expressed in plants, be useful for controlling virus infection.

Optical chemical imaging of tobacco mosaic virus in solution at 60-nm resolution

Scanning near-field optical microscopy can provide images with a resolution less than the wavelength of light, and therefore ought in principle to be of great value in studies of biological structures. In this work we show how for the first time images have been obtained of tobacco mosaic virus particles at 60-nm resolution, combined with chemical imaging using monoclonal antibodies under in vitro conditions.

Structure of the stacked disk aggregate of tobacco mosaic virus protein

The coat protein of tobacco mosaic virus is known to form three different classes of aggregate, depending on environmental conditions, namely helical, disk, and A-protein. Among the disk aggregates, there are four-layer, six-layer, and long stacks, which can be obtained by varying the ionic strength and temperature conditions during the association process. The four-layer aggregate has been crystallized, and its structure solved to atomic resolution. The stacked disk aggregate had been presumed to be built of a polar two-layer disk related to the crystalline A and B rings. A study using monoclonal antibodies specific to the bottom surface of TMV protein demonstrated that the stacked disk aggregate is bipolar, and suggested that the repeating two-layer unit might be similar to the dihedrally symmetrical A-ring pair in the disk crystal. In this paper we present a three-dimensional reconstruction of the stacked disk aggregate obtained by electron microscopy of ice-embedded samples. After modeling of the structure, we found the ring pairs to have the same quaternary structure as the A-ring pair of the four-layer aggregate. The resolution achieved in the image processing of the electron micrographs is on the order of 9 A in the meridional direction and 12 A in the equatorial. The identification of the structure of the stacked disk with the A-ring pair of the disk crystal provides an explanation of the observation that the axial periodicity of the disk pair, which is approximately 53 A when fully hydrated, can shrink to approximately 43 A in the dry state.

Uses of biosensors in the study of viral antigens

The introduction in 1990 of a new biosensor technology based on surface plasmon resonance has greatly simplified the measurement of binding interactions in biology. This new technology known as biomolecular interaction analysis makes it possible to visualize the binding process as a function of time by following the increase in refractive index that occurs when one of the interacting partners binds to its ligand immobilized on the surface of a sensor chip. None of the reactants needs to be labelled, which avoids the artefactual changes in binding properties that often result when the molecules are labelled. Biosensor instruments are well-suited for the rapid mapping of viral epitopes and for identifying which combinations of capturing and detector Mabs will give the best results in sandwich assays. Biosensor binding data are also useful for selecting peptides to be used in diagnostic solid-phase immunoassays. Very small changes in binding affinity can be measured with considerable precision which is a prerequisite for analyzing the functional effect and thermodynamic implications of limited structural changes in interacting molecules. On-rate (ka) and off-rate (kd) kinetic constants of the interaction between virus and antibody can be readily measured and the equilibrium affinity constant K can be calculated from the ratio ka/kd = K.

Brome mosaic virus helicase- and polymerase-like proteins colocalize on the endoplasmic reticulum at sites of viral RNA synthesis

The helicase-like 1a and polymerase-like 2a proteins of brome mosaic virus (BMV) are required for viral RNA replication in vivo, are present in membrane-bound viral RNA polymerase extracts, and share conservation with the many other members of the alphavirus-like superfamily. To better understand BMV RNA replication and BMV-host interactions, we used confocal microscopy and double-label immunofluorescence to determine and compare the sites of 1a, 2a, and nascent viral RNA accumulation in BMV-infected barley protoplasts. 1a and 2a showed nearly complete colocalization throughout infection, accumulating in defined cytoplasmic spots usually adjacent to or surrounding the nucleus. These spots grew throughout infection and by 16 h postinoculation often assumed a vesicle-like appearance. The BMV RNA replication complex incorporated 5-bromouridine 5'-triphosphate into RNA in vitro and in vivo, allowing immunofluorescent detection of nascent RNA. The cytoplasmic sites of BMV-specific RNA synthesis coincided with the sites of 1a and 2a accumulation, and at the resolution of confocal microscopy, all sites of 1a and 2a accumulation were sites of BMV RNA synthesis. Double-label immunofluorescence detection of selected subcellular markers and 1a or 2a showed that BMV replication complexes were tightly associated with markers for the endoplasmic reticulum but not the medial Golgi or later compartments of the cellular secretory pathway. Defining this association of BMV RNA replication complexes with endoplasmic reticulum markers should assist in identifying and characterizing host factors involved in BMV RNA replication.

Mapping of viral conformational epitopes using biosensor measurements

Earlier electron microscopy studies of the location of various antigenic sites in tobacco mosaic virus indicated that epitopes specific for the quaternary structure and absent in dissociated viral subunits (so-called neotopes) were present along the entire length of the virus particle. In contrast, epitopes expressed in both intact particles and dissociated subunits (so-called metatopes) were found only at the one extremity of the particle containing the 5' end of the RNA. In the present study, the binding properties of antibodies to neotopes and metatopes were studied with the BIAcore. From the results of capture assays with viral subunits and on the basis of binding stoichiometry calculations, it was possible to demonstrate the presence of neotope and metatope specificities on additional parts of the viral surface where they had not been identified before by classical immunoassays. In two site binding assays it was also found that a neotope specificity could be induced in dissociated viral subunits by the binding of a first antimetatope antibody. The results clearly demonstrated the superiority of the biosensor technology for mapping conformational epitopes in viral proteins.

A single amino acid substitution at N-terminal region of coat protein of turnip mosaic virus alters antigenicity and aphid transmissibility

The antigenic activity of the N-terminal region of coat protein of turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) aphid transmissible strain 1 and non-transmissible strain 31 was examined by using a panel of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) raised against the two virus strains as well as antisera raised against several synthetic peptides from the N-terminal region of the protein. The reactivity of these antibodies was tested in ELISA and in a biosensor system (BIAcore Pharmacia) using virus particles, dissociated coat protein and synthetic peptides as antigens. Substitution of a single amino acid at position 8 in the coat protein of TuMV strain 1 abolished any cross-reactivity between MAbs to strain 1 and the substituted peptide (strain 31) in ELISA although some cross-reactivity was apparent in BIAcore inhibition experiments. In reciprocal tests with MAbs to strain 31 no cross-reactivity with the heterologous peptide was detected in either type of assay. The amino acid residue present at position 8 appears to play a critical role in the binding capacity of MAbs specific for the N-terminal region of TuMV. Antiserum to a synthetic peptide corresponding to residues 1-14 of the protein of TuMV strain 1 was found to react strongly with dissociated coat protein and intact virus particles and was able to inhibit the aphid transmission of the virus. Antiserum to the corresponding peptide of strain 31 did not have this capacity.

Expression of tobacco mosaic virus coat protein and assembly of pseudovirus particles in Escherichia coli

The bidirectional self-assembly of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV, common or U1 strain) has been studied extensively in vitro. Foreign single-stranded RNA molecules containing the TMV origin-of-assembly sequence (OAS, 75-432 nt in length) are also packaged by TMV coat protein (CP) in vitro to form helical pseudovirus particles. To study virus assembly in vivo requires an easily manipulated model system, independent of replication in plants. The TMV assembly machinery also provides a convenient means to protect and recover chimeric gene transcripts of almost any length or sequence for a variety of applications. Native TMV CP expressed in and purified from Escherichia coli formed nonhelical, stacked aggregates after dialysis into pH 5 buffer and was inactive for in vitro assembly with TMV RNA. U1 CP derivatives in which the second amino acid was changed from Ser to Ala or Pro, nonacetylated N termini found in two natural strains of the virus, failed to remediate these anomalous properties. However, in vivo coexpression of CP and single-stranded RNAs (up to approximately 2 kb) containing the TMV OAS gave high yields of helical pseudovirus particles of the predicted length (up to 7.4 +/- 1.4 micrograms/mg of total bacterial protein). If the OAS-containing RNA was first recruited into bacterial polyribosomes, elongation of pseudovirus assembly was blocked. In vivo, E. coli expression of a full-length cDNA clone of the TMV genome (6.4 kb) resulted in high, immunodetectable levels of CP and assembly of sufficient intact genomic RNA to initiate systemic infection of susceptible tobacco plants.

Production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies to plum pox virus and their use in differentiation of Mediterranean isolates

Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) specific to plum pox virus (PPV) were prepared by fusing myeloma cell lines to spleen cells of mice immunized with purified virus, including virus prepared with protease inhibitors to preserve the integrity of the coat protein (CP). The characterized MAbs could be used in ELISA to differentiate several Mediterranean PPV isolates differing in their geographical origin and CP size. At least seven antigenic sites could be established based on the recognition pattern and competition binding analysis, and the epitopes could be classified in three groups by Western blot analysis of intact and trypsin digested virus particles. By means of electron microscopy the epitopes could be seen to be located on the surface of the virus particles.

Measurement of kinetic binding constants of viral antibodies using a new biosensor technology

Association (ka) and dissociation (kd) rate constants of three monoclonal antibodies raised against tobacco mosaic virus were determined using a biosensor technique based on surface plasmon resonance (BIAcore, Pharmacia). Dissociation rates were constant over the 4-400 nM antibody concentration range whereas apparent association rates decreased over this range probably due to an increased saturation level of the antigen. Affinity constants K calculated from the ratio of ka/kd were in reasonable agreement with values obtained under equilibrium conditions by two standard methods based on enzyme immunoassay.

Monoclonal antibody neutralization of BPV-1

Mouse monoclonal antibodies were generated against intact infectious BPV-1 virions by methods previously described (Christensen et al., 1990). ELISA was used to screen for reactivities to intact and/or disrupted BPV-1, CRPV and HPV-11 virions. Several hybridomas were initially selected that showed antibody reactivity by ELISA to both intact and disrupted BPV-1, to disrupted BPV-1 only, or to intact BPV-1 virions. One monoclonal antibody, designated B1.A1, which reacted only to intact BPV-1 was selected for virus neutralization analyses. ELISA demonstrated that this monoclonal antibody bound to intact BPV-1 virions, but not to intact CRPV, HPV-11 or to disrupted papillomavirus (PV) antigens. Strong neutralization of BPV-1-induced focus formation of mouse C127 cells by monoclonal B1.A1 was observed. The neutralization titer was equivalent to the neutralization titer obtained with a polyclonal rabbit anti-BPV-1 virion antisera, and directly correlated with antibody concentration as determined by ELISA. These results extend our previous analyses on the epitopes of infectious papillomaviruses as defined by monoclonal antibodies that identify neutralizing epitopes. The nature of these epitopes is such that maintenance of the quaternary structure of the infectious virions is necessary for preservation of the antigenicity of the neutralizing epitope.

Molecular characterization of a structural epitope that is largely conserved among severe isolates of a plant virus

Direct molecular evidence was obtained for the critical role of a single amino acid residue in a structural epitope distinguished by the monoclonal antibody MCA-13, which reacts selectively with severe isolates of citrus tristeza virus (CTV). Different CTV isolates cause a wide range of symptoms in the diverse citrus species they affect. Severe symptoms include decline, stem pitting, and seedling yellows. Plants infected by mild isolates are essentially symptomless. The monoclonal antibody MCA-13, which discriminates severe isolates from mild isolates of the virus, was used to map its epitope on the coat protein of CTV. A diverse group of coat protein genes of geographically and biologically distinct CTV isolates which are either MCA-13-reactive or MCA-13-nonreactive was cloned and sequenced. A series of mutant coat protein genes was constructed through oligonucleotide-directed, site-specific mutagenesis. The reactivity of the wild-type and mutant coat proteins expressed in Escherichia coli was evaluated by Western blotting using MCA-13 and polyclonal antibody prepared to CTV-coat protein. A single nucleotide alteration resulting in a Phe-->Tyr mutation at position 124 of the coat protein abolished the MCA-13 reactivity of a severe isolate, whereas a Tyr-->Phe mutation at the same site conferred MCA-13 reactivity on the coat protein of a previously nonreactive mild isolate of CTV.

Characterization of epitopes recognized by monoclonal antibodies to aphid transmissible and non-transmissible strains of turnip mosaic virus

Fourteen monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were prepared against two strains of turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) differing in aphid transmissibility. Serological specificity of fourteen MAbs against the two strains was tested by indirect ELISA. Three MAbs were able to distinguish aphid transmissible TuMV strain 1 from non-aphid transmissible strain 31 while four MAbs reacted only with strain 31. No cross-reactivity between the two strains was found using these specific MAbs. Based upon the ability of Mab to inhibit the reaction of other MAbs, antibody competition test indicated that fourteen MAbs recognized six different epitopes on the virus particle; MAbs specific to strain 1 recognized two epitopes while MAbs specific to strain 31 also recognized two epitopes. The remaining two epitopes are common. Since the six amino acid differences between the coat proteins of the two strains were found at the N-terminal regions, MAbs specific to strain 1 or 31 bound to the different epitopes on the N-terminal regions in coat proteins of the two strains.

Tobacco mosaic virus: a model antigen to study virus-antibody interactions

For more than 50 years, tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) has been used as a model system for studying various aspects of virus-antibody interactions. Distinct epitopes called neotopes and cryptotopes have been identified in intact TMV particles and dissociated viral protein respectively and a correlation has been found to exist between the location of continuous epitopes and the extent of segmental mobility along the viral polypeptide chain. The occurrence of bivalent antibody binding was shown to influence the observed affinity of TMV antibodies and kinetic measurements of antibody binding to viral peptides made it possible to analyze the mechanism of binding of monoclonal antibodies. It seems likely that the TMV model will continue to yield a rich harvest of immunochemical data relevant to many viral systems.

The conformational specificity of viral epitopes

Four types of antigenic sites found in viruses are discussed: cryptotopes, neotopes, metatopes and neutralization epitopes. The role played by conformation on the specificity of viral epitopes is illustrated in the case of tobacco mosaic virus and influenza virus. It appears that mechanisms reminiscent of induced fit contribute to the recognition of viral epitopes by antibodies.

Cross-reactive potential of monoclonal antibodies raised against proteolysed tobacco etch virus

Monoclonal antibodies (mAb) capable of reacting with different potyviruses were obtained by immunizing mice with proteolysed tobacco etch virus. The mAb were not equally effective in all ELISA formats and some were specific for different conformational states of the viral coat protein. The mAb also detected antigenic differences between purified virus particles and viral antigen in infected plant sap. In an ELISA format using antigen-coated plates, 5 different potyviruses (out of 7 viruses tested) could be detected in plant sap by one mAb. Different combinations of mAb and polyclonal antiserum could also be used for detecting several potyviruses by ELISA.

Measurement of affinity of viral monoclonal antibodies using Fab'-peroxidase conjugate. Influence of antibody concentration on apparent affinity

The binding affinity of a monoclonal antibody to tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) was studied using a Fab'-peroxidase conjugate. Measurement of the enzymatic activity allowed the determination of the amount of free antibody present after ultracentrifugation of virus-antibody complexes at equilibrium. The method was very sensitive and allowed measurements over a 1000-fold range of antibody concns. The calculated affinity constant decreased about 25 fold when the antibody concn used in the binding assay was increased from 30 ng/ml to 35 micrograms/ml.

Mapping of viral epitopes with conformationally specific monoclonal antibodies using biosensor technology

An automated biosensor system (BIAcore) designed for measuring molecular interactions in real time and without labelling any of the reactants was used for mapping the epitopes of tobacco mosaic virus protein using conformationally specific monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). Some of the MAbs used as capturing antibody on the sensor chip allowed a conformational change to occur in the viral protein. As a result, MAbs specific for the quaternary structure of polymerized viral protein were able to bind to monomeric viral subunits. Compared with classical solid-phase enzyme immunoassay, the biosensor technology possesses several advantages for epitope mapping of viral proteins.

Operational aspects of antibody affinity constants measured by liquid-phase and solid-phase assays

The association constant of monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) to tobacco mosaic virus has been determined in solution and solid-phase binding assays. The ELISA equilibrium titration method developed by Friguet et al. (1985) was found to be suitable for large antigens such as viruses. In the case of intact IgG antibody, it gave equilibrium constant (K) values ca 30% lower than those obtained by classical solution-phase assay while in the case of Fab', the same values were obtained in both assays. Solid-phase binding assays gave higher K values than solution-phase assays by a factor which varied with the Mab tested (1.5- to 5.4-fold higher). Furthermore, in solution-phase assay, K values were found to depend on the antibody concentration used in the assay. These results confirm the operational nature of antibody affinity constants and indicate that in order to compare the affinity of different Mabs in a meaningful way, it is necessary to use a single technique under standardized conditions.

Interaction between viruses and monoclonal antibodies studied by surface plasmon resonance

An automated biosensor system designed for measuring molecular interactions in real time and without any labelling of the reactants has been used to study the interaction of two animal viruses (vaccinia virus and poliovirus) and two plant viruses (cowpea mosaic virus and tobacco mosaic virus) with monoclonal antibodies. Using monoclonal antibodies specific for different conformational states of viral protein, it was found that the virus particles retained their conformational integrity when immobilized on the dextran matrix present on the sensor chip. Compared to conventional solid phase immunoassays, in which immobilized proteins are usually partly denatured, the biosensor system presents several advantages for studying virus-antibody interaction.

Serological techniques for detection of citrus tristeza virus

Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) is the most economically important virus disease of citrus. In the last ten years, remarkable progress has been achieved in the development and improvement of new serological methods for CTV detection so that serology has become a dependable tool for many research, extension and regulatory purposes worldwide. CTV-specific polyclonal antisera and monoclonal antibodies have been developed in different research laboratories and used extensively in a wide range of different studies. This review describes the diverse serological methods developed for CTV detection and analyzes the advantages, disadvantages, relative sensitivity, applications, and present status of each method.

Some observations on the binding properties of alfalfa mosaic virus to polystyrene and its significance to indirect ELISA

The adsorption and retention properties of native (unfixed) and glutaraldehyde-fixed alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV) antigens to the polystyrene of ELISA plates were studied using [35S]-labelled virus preparations. It was shown that adsorption was a temperature-dependent, relatively slow process which varied between different AMV isolates. The amount of virus antigen adsorbed was dependent on the type and pH of the suspending buffer. Although native virus antigen adsorbed very efficiently at high pH when the particles had dissociated, significant amounts also adsorbed at pH 7.0, or lower. However, glutaraldehyde-fixed virus particles which retained their integrity even at pH as high as 9.6, adsorbed much more efficiently than native virus antigen above pH 9.0, but hardly at all around pH 7.0. The wide variation in adsorption of AMV antigen to microtitre plates under even slightly different conditions had significant influence on ELISA readings, which calls for extreme caution in interpreting serological results from indirect ELISA when antigen is used to coat the microtitre plates.

Measurement of affinity of viral monoclonal antibodies by ELISA titration of free antibody in equilibrium mixtures

The binding affinity of a monoclonal antibody (Mab) to tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) was determined by measuring, in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, the amount of free antibody present after ultracentrifugation of virus-antibody complexes at equilibrium. In antibody excess, univalent binding of Mabs was observed and the affinity constant was K = 3.2 +/- 0.4 10(8) l/mol; in antigen excess, bivalent antibody binding was observed and the antibody avidity was about 15 times higher. In antigen excess, it was imperative to correct experimental data for the presence of 0.55% inactive molecules in the immunopurified antibody preparation. Modelling studies suggest that in the case of antibodies of increasing affinity, it becomes increasingly important to correct for the presence of inactive antibody in the binding assay.

Comparative study of antigenic properties of potato virus X and its coat protein in solution and after adsorption to solid supports

Different ELISA procedures were used to compare the antigenic properties of intact potato virus X (PVX) and its dissociated protein. It was found that when the reaction took place in solution (competition ELISA), the intact virus reacted with polyclonal antibodies against the intact PVX (Ab-PVX) much more strongly than did the dissociated PVX coat protein (Pr), and the dissociated protein reacted with the homologous polyclonal antibodies (Ab-Pr) more strongly than did the intact PVX. However, if these two antigens were absorbed directly to polystyrene wells (in direct ELISA), they acquired similar reactivities with Ab-Pr, while the intact PVX still reacted more strongly with the Ab-PVX than did the dissociated protein. Differences in reactivity with Ab-Pr and Ab-PVX were not observed between PVX absorbed to polystyrene plate wells (direct ELISA) and to immunoglobulin-coated wells (double antibody sandwich ELISA). These results are not in agreement with the currently accepted view of PVX virions disruption (denaturation) upon adsorption to plastic.

Influence of ELISA conditions on detection of serological relationships among luteoviruses

Three variations in the ELISA procedure were used in an attempt to understand the basis for serological relationships among three isolates of barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV-RPV-I from Illinois, BYDV-RPV-N from New York and BYDV-PAV from Illinois), beet western yellows virus (BWYV) and soybean dwarf virus (SDV). Detection of serological relationships was dependent on the state of the virus particle (e.g. dissociated or intact) and the method of detection (e.g. direct or indirect). In indirect ELISA, where virus particles were dissociated due to incubation in a high pH buffer, all five virus isolates were serologically related. In double antibody sandwich (DAS) ELISA, identification of serological relationships was based on detection of epitopes associated with intact virus particles, which resulted the detection of fewer serological relationships. Direct ELISA showed, depending on the Ig, that the state of the virus particle and/or the method of detection did effect the ability to detect some serological relationships.

Structure of viral B-cell epitopes

Four categories of viral epitopes can be distinguished that have been designated cryptotopes, neotopes, metatopes and neutralization epitopes. Specific examples of each epitope type are presented and the methods used for locating their positions in viral proteins are described. The epitopes of four well-characterized viruses, namely poliovirus, foot-and-mouth disease virus, influenza virus and tobacco mosaic virus are briefly described.

Use of monoclonal antibodies for the identification of different antigenic domains in apple chlorotic leaf spot virus

Thirteen monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) specific for apple chlorotic leaf spot virus (ACLSV), produced by the somatic cell hybridization technique, were used to investigate the antigenic structure of the virus. Epitope specificity studies showed that these Mabs defined in ACLSV particles seven independent antigenic domains, representing at least eight distinct epitopes. One of them was present only in virions and not in dissociated subunits. It appeared that the interaction between a Mab and the virus could, in some cases, induce conformational changes in the viral particles which enhanced the binding of others. Twenty nine virus isolates differing in geographical origin, primary hosts and symptomatology were tested with these monoclonal antibodies by ELISA. With the exception of two Mabs which did not react with three cherry isolates, and one Mab which did not react with one plum isolate, all of them recognized all ACLSV isolates tested.

Odontoglossum ringspot virus coat protein: sequence and antigenic comparisons with other tobamoviruses

Comparative immunochemical analysis of different tobamoviruses indicated that the previously reported coat protein sequence of Odontoglossum ringspot virus was likely erroneous. This sequence has been determined again by direct sequencing of the genomic RNA and was found to differ from the previously proposed sequence in 31 of the 157 amino acid residues. The extent of antigenic cross-reactivity between ORSV protein and other tobamovirus proteins was measured by ELISA and found to correlate satisfactorily with the degree of sequence homology.

Polarity of binding of monoclonal antibodies to tobacco mosaic virus rods and stacked disks

Monoclonal antibodies to tobacco mosaic virus that bind only to one end of the viral rods have been shown to recognize the surface of the protein subunit designated as the bottom, which contains the right radial and left radial alpha-helices. The specificity of the antibody binding was established by immunoelectron microscopy of complexes in which the 5' end of the RNA had been exposed at the bottom of the helical virus particle. These antibodies have been shown to bind to both ends of the stacked disk aggregate of TMV protein, which is therefore bipolar. The observations on the bipolarity of this structure are inconsistent with the presumption that stacked disks are formed by aggregation of polar two-layer disks.

Limitations of different ELISA procedures for localizing epitopes in viral coat protein subunits

The reactivity of monoclonal antibodies (McAbs) to the coat protein of tobacco mosaic virus (TMVP) with the isolated coat protein, disks, virions and a number of antigenic variants of TMV was tested in eight different ELISA procedures. Although certain McAbs, when used as detecting antibody in the liquid phase, did not react with some of these antigens, they were able to bind to them when used as the capturing antibody on the solid phase. This finding was attributed to the ability of the trapping McAb to induce a complementary conformation in the antigen presented in the liquid phase. In many cases, the reactivity of the McAbs was found to depend on the format of the ELISA. This finding together with the presence of oligomers in viral coat protein preparations made it impossible to map TMVP epitopes on the surface of the viral subunit by means of competitive ELISA.

Monoclonal antibodies produced to bean yellow mosaic virus, clover yellow vein virus, and pea mosaic virus which cross-react among the three viruses

Monoclonal antibodies prepared against individual potyviruses that infect forage legumes cross-reacted among the viruses. The reaction occurs between capsid subunits and presumably involves epitopes located in the trypsin-resistant core of the coat protein.

Differentiation of peanut clump virus serotypes by monoclonal antibodies

A panel of monoclonal antibodies (mAb) produced against peanut clump virus (PCV) was used to characterize five serotypes of the virus. Four different formats of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) were compared to establish the most suitable one for diagnosis of infected plants and for serotype differentiation. Since most mAb retained their activity when used for coating microtitre plates, a dual mAb-type assay was found to be most suitable. The same mAb could be used in ELISA as coating and as biotinylated antibody. Because of the ability of mAb to recognize subtle conformational alterations in the viral antigen, it is important to carefully select the ELISA format used for comparing different viral isolates.

Spurious cross-reactions between plant viruses and monoclonal antibodies can be overcome by saturating ELISA plates with milk proteins

It has been claimed recently [Dietzgen (1986) Arch Virol 91: 163-173] that a series of monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) produced against the nepovirus, arabis mosaic virus (ArMV) cross-reacted with the tobamovirus, tobacco mosaic virus (TMV). In the present report, this alleged cross-reactivity was re-examined by two ELISA procedures using Mabs produced against each of the two viruses. It was found that when highly concentrated preparations of Mabs were used, all antibodies reacted in a nonspecific manner with several plant viruses. However, when defatted milk instead of bovine serum albumin was used both as blocking agent and as diluent for the Mabs, the spurious cross-reactions between unrelated viruses were abolished. The use of milk as blocking agent did not prevent the detection of genuine cross-reactions between related nepoviruses.

Early screening for anti-plum pox virus monoclonal antibodies with different epitope specificities by means of gold-labelled immunosorbent electron microscopy

The technique of gold-labelled immunosorbent electron microscopy for the initial screening of monoclonal antibodies 10 days after cell fusion from 96-well culture plates is described. The technique is used to identify clones that secrete antibodies binding on the surface of the virion or to viral subunits, and compared to ELISA and Western blotting. High sensitivity was demonstrated.