CHARACTERIZATION OF MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODIES TO HEMOCYTES OF PSEUDOPLUSIA-INCLUDENS

A panel of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) was generated against hemocyte s from unparasitized Pseudoplusia includens and P. includens parasitiz ed by the polydnavirus- carrying parasitoid Microplitis demolitor. Of 862 hybridomas generated, 107 lines secreted antibodies to one or more classes of hemocytes, For the current study, 21 lines were cloned, 11 lines were isotyped and three MAbs were characterized, MAb 48F2D5 spe cifically labeled granular cells, MAb 52F3A5 labeled plasmatocytes and MAb 55F2G7 only labeled hemocytes inoculated with M. demolitor polydn avirus (MdPDV), Western blot analysis indicated that each MAb recogniz ed specific antigens when cell proteins were separated on SDS-PAGE gel s. Using immunofluorescence microscopy, differences were noted in the proportion of granular cells and plasmatocytes present in parasitized hosts and in the proportion of each cell type labeled by MAb 55F2G7, D ouble-labeling experiments further suggested that the proportion of gr anular cells infected by MdPDV declined between 24 h and 7 days post-p arasitism while the proportion of infected plasmatocytes did not.