EPITOPE MAPPING AND FUNCTIONAL-CHARACTERIZATION OF MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODIES SPECIFIC FOR HERPES-SIMPLEX VIRUS TYPE-I DNA-POLYMERASE

Three monoclonal antibodies (MAbs 1051a, 1051b and 1051c) were raised against a surface region (residues 597-686) of the herpes simplex viru s type 1 (HSV-1) DNA polymerase (HSV pol), and their epitopes were map ped. The MAbs reacted serotype specifically with the native and denatu red HSV pol, as shown by Western blot analysis, immunoprecipitation an d immunofluorescence microscopy, indicating their usefulness for bioch emical studies and clinical diagnosis of HSV-1 infections. MAb 1051c, displaying the least crossreactivity with cellular proteins in the Wes tern blot analysis, was successfully utilized not only for coimmunopre cipitation, but also for the analysis and three-dimensional modeling o f the cellular sites of HSV pol interaction by confocal laser immunofl uorescence microscopy.