Construction and characterization of monoclonal antibodies against westernequine encephalitis virus

A repertoire of mouse monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against western equine e ncephalitis virus (WEE) was constructed and characterized. Anti-WEE antibod ies were expressed from hybridomas and purified by protein G chromatography , Each of the antibodies was functionally assessed by indirect enzyme-linke d immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), Western blotting, and immunoprecipitations . All antibodies bound to WEE antigen in ELISAs, whereas only a subgroup of antibodies was found to be active in Western blotting and immunoprecipitat ions, A subset of antibodies was found to cross-react with other alphavirus es, such as Sindbis virus (SIN), Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE), and eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), Because many of the antibodies were high ly reactive to WEE antigen in one or more of the assays, these antibodies a re excellent candidates for immunodetection and immunotherapy studies.