ANTIBODY-RESPONSE TO 146S PARTICLE, 12S PROTEIN SUBUNIT AND ISOLATED VP1 POLYPEPTIDE OF FOOT-AND-MOUTH-DISEASE VIRUS TYPE ASIA-1

The antibody response to foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) antigens of type Asia-1 in guinea-pigs was studied by micro-serum neutralizatio n test (MSNT) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). One inocu lation of as little as 1 mu g of binary ethyleneimine (BEI)-inactivate d 146S virus particles in guinea-pigs elicited enough neutralizing ant ibodies to protect them against challenge with virulent virus. However , one inoculation of live 146S virus particles elicited higher levels of neutralizing antibodies in guinea-pigs than that of inactivated 146 S particles. One inoculation of 12S protein subunits in guinea-pigs el icited only non-neutralizing anti-12S antibodies detected by ELISA. Si milarly, non-neutralizing anti-VP1 antibodies were detected by ELISA a fter one inoculation of VP1. However, multiple inoculations of 12S or VP1 elicited measurable neutralizing antibodies in guinea-pigs that pr otected them against challenge.