EXPRESSION OF RECOMBINANT PARVOVIRUS NS1 PROTEIN BY A BACULOVIRUS ANDAPPLICATION TO SEROLOGIC TESTING OF RODENTS

A recombinant baculovirus containing the NS1 gene of minute virus of m ice was constructed. Optimal expression of the recombinant NS1 protein (rNS1) was achieved by infecting Trichoplusa in High Five cells at a multiplicity of 10 and incubating them for 72 h postinfection. An enzy me-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with rNS1 as the antigen was eva luated for serologic testing of laboratory rodents. The rNS1 ELISA pro ved to be a more sensitive method for the detection of antibodies to r ecently recognized rodent parvovirus species (mouse orphan parvovirus and rat orphan parvovirus) and prototypic parvovirus species (minute v irus of mice, Kilham's rat virus, and H-1) than were conventional parv ovirus ELISAs that use whole parvovirus virions.