USE OF TONGUE EPITHELIUM ANTIGEN IN STUDYING VARIATIONS AT THE TRYPSIN-SENSITIVE NEUTRALIZABLE MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODY BINDING-SITE OF TYPE-O FOOT-AND-MOUTH-DISEASE VIRUS ISOLATES BY MAB-PROFILING

In the present communication 13 type O field isolates, both in the for m of direct tongue epithelium suspension and infected BHK-21 cell-cult ure fluid, were subjected to Mab-profiling using 4 Mabs specific to tr ypsin-sensitive neutralizable antigenic site of OR2/75 strain. The res ults obtained with tongue epithelium suspensions and cell culture pass aged materials were compared. Results from 5 isolates were not much in fluenced by the nature of the antigen preparation used. Seven isolates showed much lower reactivity with 1 or more Mabs when used in the for m of tongue epithelium suspension. One isolate showed homologous react ivity with a particular Mab (Mab 9) only when it was used in the form of tongue epithelium suspension. The observations showed that direct f ield materials in the form of tongue epithelium suspension can be used in Mab-profiling, studies. Moreover, the results revealed that 12 iso lates differed from the reference virus at one or more Mab-binding sit es.