A CAPTURE ENZYME-LINKED-IMMUNOSORBENT-ASSAY FOR VIRUS INFECTIVITY TITRATIONS AS EXEMPLIFIED IN AN ADENOVIRUS SYSTEM

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), employing a capturing an tihexon monoclonal antibody specifically recognizing free hexons, was developed for quantitative infectivity titration of adenovirus in a mi croscale titration assay. The method is based on the quantitative asse ssment of the total excess production of the major structural protein late in infection in samples consisting of 10(5) virus-infected HeLa c ells maintained as stationary suspension cultures. Results are obtaine d with a coefficient of variation of 10% within 50 hours after virus i nfection. The method was designed for monitoring substances interferin g with viral replication, e.g., neutralizing antibodies or antiviral d rugs. Since it measured the total antigen content associated with cell s as well as antigens possibly released into the growth medium the gen eral approach should be applicable to any viral system where a structu ral protein is synthesized in excess.