IN-VITRO DETECTION OF BOVINE IMMUNODEFICIENCY-LIKE VIRUS USING MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODIES GENERATED TO A RECOMBINANT GAG FUSION PROTEIN

An Escherichia coli recombinant fusion protein containing the major co re protein of bovine immunodeficiency-like virus (BIV) was used to imm unize mice for generation of monoclonal antibodies to BIV p26. Eight h ybridomas specific for BIV p26 were identified and two antibodies, des ignated 104 and 142, were further characterized. Both 104 and 142 anti bodies were isotyped as IgG1; they reacted specifically with both BIV p26 and the recombinant fusion protein in Western immunoblot analyses. However, the epitope specificity of the antibodies was different. Imm unoperoxidase assays were used to determine if antibodies 104 and/or 1 42 could detect BIV replication in cell culture. Both antibodies were found to react with BIV-induced syncytia and individual BIV-infected c ells. The antibodies were also used successfully in a focal immunoassa y for quantitation of BIV-infected cells. These antibodies will provid e valuable reagents for detection and quantitation of BIV replication in studies of viral pathogenesis and immunity.