ANTIGENIC SIGNATURE ANALYSIS REFLECTS DIFFERENCES AMONG PLANT-VIRUS ISOLATES

Antigenic differences among cowpea severe mosaic virus (CPSMV) isolate s were clearly reflected in signature analysis employing a panel of se ven well-characterized, monoclonal antibodies. Separate binding curves were generated by reacting serial dilutions of extracts from infected plant tissue containing each antigen simultaneously with each antibod y in the panel. An iterative procedure was used to align unknown CPSMV antigen concentrations from different antigen preparations to allow c omparison of binding profiles from different assays. Signature analysi s was shown to be highly useful for the elucidation of subtle antigeni c differences among viral agents because it requires neither purified virus nor knowledge of virus concentration in sap from infected plants .