PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODIES DIRECTED AGAINST GLYCOPROTEINS OF BOVINE LEUKEMIA-VIRUS

Six monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) directed against glycoproteins of bo vine leukaemia virus (BLV) were prepared and characterized. Comparison of these MoAbs with anti-gp51 MoAbs of known epitope specificity by c ompetition antibody binding assay allowed to distinguish two new confo rmational epitopes C1 and C2 on the molecule of gp51. The epitope C1 i s involved in the process of inhibition of formation of syncytia but n ot in neutralization of VSV/BLV pseudotypes. Three newly prepared MoAb s were directed against known epitopes F, G and H, and their neutraliz ing activities of biological functions of gp51 were determined. MoAbs BLVgp30-94C11 which was directed against transmembrane glycoprotein gp 30 was found not to be involved in neutralization of VSV/BLV pseudotyp es and did not inhibit formation of syncytial cells as well.