title: Antigenic analysis of Rift Valley fever virus isolates: monoclonal antibodies distinguish between wild-type and neurotropic virus strains.
abstract: Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) isolates from southern Africa were analysed for possible strain variation using monoclonal antibodies prepared against the South African prototype RVF 1830 strain. By the indirect immunofluorescence antibody assay and neutralization tests, the wild type southern African isolates were found to be antigenically similar to RVFV strains from other parts of Africa. In contrast, differences in several biologically important neutralizing and haemagglutination epitopes on both the G1 and G2 glycoproteins of the attenuated Onderstepoort veterinary vaccine and the Smithburn neurotropic strain were identified.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa.
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Besselaar
authors.forename: N K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Blackburn
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Meenehan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology*; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D009474:Neurons / Q000382:microbiology; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D012295:Rift Valley Fever / Q000382:microbiology; D012296:Rift Valley fever virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D013019:South Africa; D015030:Zimbabwe
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000956:Antigens, Viral