Evaluation of two recombinant Maedi-visna virus proteins for use in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of serum antibodies to ovine lentiviruses.
Defined segments of the gag polyprotein and transmembrane envelope glycoprotein from Maedi-visna virus were expressed as glutathione S-transferase fusion proteins in Escherichia coli and evaluated singly and in combination for use in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Two hundred sixty field serum specimens from 15 sheep flocks were tested in parallel with recombinant and whole-virus antigens, and the relative sensitivities and specificities of the recombinant antigens were calculated. When the recombinant gag and transmembrane proteins were used in combination, a sensitivity of 97.4% and a specificity of 99.4% relative to whole-virus antigen were observed, indicating the utility of these proteins in diagnostic testing.
Health of Animals Laboratory, Agriculture Canada, Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada.
C
C
Power
S
S
Richardson
M
M
Briscoe
J
J
Pasick
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D012756:Sheep; D015678:Viral Structural Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D014790:Visna-maedi virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D015678:Viral Structural Proteins