RECOMBINANT COAT PROTEINS OF SPHERICAL PHYTOVIRUSES AND THEIR POTENTIALITIES FOR IMMUNOENZYME DIAGNOSTICS

Full-sized and/or N-truncated recombinant coat proteins (CP) were obta ined for turnip crinkle carmovirus (TCV), carnation ringspot dianthovi rus (CRSV), and potato leafroll luteovirus (PLRV). Their serological p roperties were examined with antisera against intact virions. The reco mbinant TCV and CRSV CP proved quite reactive. For PLRV, expression of a full-sized CP could not be achieved; however, truncation of 63 N-te rminal amino acids yielded a stable seroreactive protein. The reactivi ty of CRSV and PLRV CP with sera to intact virions was found to be in great measure determined by the S-domain conformation. The efficacy of this technology in detection of spherical viruses is discussed.