title: Use of a monoclonal antibody specific for wild-type yellow fever virus to identify a wild-type antigenic variant in 17D vaccine pools.
abstract: Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against the Asibi wild-type strain of yellow fever (YF) virus were prepared and characterized. One of the MAbs (designated MAb 117) was shown, by cross-immunofluorescence tests with flaviviruses, to be specific for wildtype YF virus. This MAb was used in indirect immunofluorescence tests to identify wild-type antigenic variants in several different YF vaccine pools. Simultaneously, a vaccine-specific MAb prepared previously (MAb 864) was used to identify YF strain 17D vaccine type variants in the wild-type Asibi virus preparation. One variant, isolated by plaque purification from a 17D vaccine pool, possessed the wild-type epitope and was neurovirulent in infant mice whereas other variants, lacking the wild-type epitope but with vaccine-specific epitopes (identified by MAb 411), were avirulent in infant mice. Avirulent variants were able to infect mice and induce antibody. Virus-specific antigen was still detected in the brains of these mice 4 weeks after inoculation, suggesting that persistent infections were developing. These results to the potential risk of selection of wild-type variants in YF vaccine preparations. They also point to the potential risk of selection of wild-type variants in YF vaccine preparations and re-emphasize the need for modernization of techniques and more effective control measures to be taken during the production of YF vaccine.
authors: Arbovirus Research Unit, St Albans, Hertfordshire, U.K.
authors: E A
authors: EA
authors: Gould
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Buckley
authors: P A
authors: PA
authors: Cane
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Higgs
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Cammack
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D000940:Antigenic Variation; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D003429:Cross Reactions; D000939:Epitopes / Q000032:analysis; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D010948:Viral Plaque Assay; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D015005:Yellow fever virus / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D000939:Epitopes; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D014765:Viral Vaccines