PREPARATION AND STUDY OF ANTI-IDIOTYPICAL ANTIBODIES CARRYING HEMAGGLUTINATING PARATOPES OF TICK-BORNE ENCEPHALITIS-VIRUS ON THEIR SURFACE

Rabbit polyclonal and rat monoclonal anti-idiotypical antibodies (AIA) against two hemagglutinating murine monoclonal antibodies to glycopro tein E of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBE) have been obtained, puri fied, and studied. All AIA reacted with murine monoclonal antibodies t o TBE protein E and did not react with normal murine immunoglobulins i n enzyme immunoassay (EIA). Polyclonal AIA to monoclonal E6B and 10H10 antibodies specifically reacted with RH, SPEV, and goose red cells. I n addition, polyclonal AIA were capable of agglutinating goose erythro cytes. Mice immunized with purified polyclonal and monoclonal AIA prod uced antiviral sera, which reacted in EIA with purified TBE virions. T hese results indicate that AIA carry the TBE virus image and mimic the hemagglutination activity epitopes on glycoprotein E. Interactions of AIA with cell membranes indicates that they fix the cellular receptor needed for adsorption and penetration of TBE virus into the cells.