ANTIGENIC HOMOGENEITY AMONG THE ADENOVIRUS HEXON TYPES OF SUBGENUS-C - BRIEF REPORT

Antigenic relationships of hexons of human adenovirus (Ad h) types 1, 2, 5 and 6 of subgenus C were studied with 61 monoclonal antibodies (M Abs) raised against human Ad hi, Ad h35 and bovine adenovirus 2. The r eactivity pattern (RP) and the titers of the MAbs were determined in i ndirect ELISA. In previous experiments with herons of different subgen era 49 MAbs displayed numerous different intertype specificities besid es genus specific and type specific ones. With the four hexon types of subgenus C all MAbs gave identical RPs except the type specific ones. Data reveal the existence of a remarkable homogeneity in the antigeni c structure among the hexon types of subgenus C defined by the presenc e of identical or closely related intertype specific epitopes on the s urface of the herons. The possible significance of the results in the experimental gene therapy is discussed.