CHARACTERIZATION OF EPITOPES ON ZUCCHINI YELLOW MOSAIC POTYVIRUS COATPROTEIN PERMITS STUDIES ON THE INTERACTIONS BETWEEN STRAINS

Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) raised against the coat protein of zucchi ni yellow mosaic potyvirus (ZYMV) were characterized by epitope mappin g using synthetic oligopeptides. Two mutant viruses with a mutation in the amino acid sequence important for epitope recognition in vitro we re obtained by site-directed mutagenesis of a full-length cDNA of ZYMV . Two MAbs, CC11 and DD2, could distinguish specifically between these mutants in mixed infections, or after sequential inoculations of musk melons. Sequential inoculations of the mutants and analysis with MAbs CC11 and DD2 revealed that cross-protection was established between th ese quasi-isogenic strains within 48 h.