Identification of an epitope common to genogroup 1 "Norwalk-like viruses"

A panel of 10 monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to recombinant Norwalk virus (NV ) capsid protein were tested in competition enzyme-linked immunosorbent ass ays. Patterns of competition indicated that these MAbs recognize six to eig ht epitopes covering five nonoverlapping regions of the capsid protein. A s ingle epitope, recognized by NV MAbs NV3901, NV3912, and NV2461 was found t o occur in the majority of genogroup 1 (G1) but not genogroup 2 (G2) "Norwa lk-like viruses" (NLVs). This observation supports the subdivision of human NLVs into two genogroups and provides an assay for the rapid identificatio n of G1 NLVs in fecal specimens.