THE GENERATION OF MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODIES RECOGNIZING NOVEL EPITOPES BYIMMUNIZATION WITH SOLID-MATRIX ANTIGEN-ANTIBODY COMPLEXES REVEALS A POLYMORPHIC DETERMINANT ON FELINE CD4

Monoclonal antibodies were generated against the feline homologue of C D4 (fCD4) by immunisation of mice with solid matrix antigen-antibody c omplexes of monoclonal antibody Fe17 (anti-fCD4) and formalin-fixed St aphylococcus A (SMAA-fCD4). The resulting fusion produced nine monoclo nal antibodies each of which recognised a major population of feline l ymphocytes and which immunoprecipitated a 55 kDa ligand from the felin e T lymphosarcoma cell line 3201. Epitope mapping of the antibodies ag ainst soluble fCD4 by surface plasmon resonance indicated that the ant ibodies recognised five separate epitopes distinct from that defined b y the Fe17 antibody used to prepare the SMAA-fCD4. These data demonstr ate that SMAA complexes are an efficient means of generating monoclona l antibodies recognising novel epitopes on an antigen. One monoclonal antibody (vpg39) recognised an epitope that was expressed variably bet ween cats, being either present or completely absent. Analysis of peri pheral blood lymphocytes from specific pathogen free cats suggested th at failure to react with the vpg39 antibody was an inherited trait.