Quantitation of flaviviruses by fluorescent focus assay.
An indirect immunofluorescence assay for quantitation of flaviviruses was developed as an alternative to the standard plaque assay. The assay was validated with West Nile virus (WNV), St. Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV), and Dengue virus (DENV) types 1-4. Vero cells were plated in 8-well chamber slides, and infected with 10-fold serial dilutions of virus. About 1-3 days after infection, cells were fixed, incubated with specific monoclonal antibody, and stained with a secondary antibody labeled with a fluorescent tag. Fluorescent foci of infection were observed and counted using a fluorescence microscope, and viral titers were calculated as fluorescent focus units (FFU) per ml. The optimal time for performing the fluorescent focus assay (FFA) on Vero cells was 24 h for WNV, and 48 h for SLEV and the four DENV serotypes. In contrast, the time required to complete a standard Vero cell plaque assay for these viruses range from 3 days for WNV to 11 days for DENV-1. Thus, the FFA method of virus titration is useful for viruses whose plaques develop slowly. In addition, these viruses can be quantitated by FFA on a mosquito cell line (C6/36), which does not support plaque formation. The FFA for flaviviruses was validated for accuracy, precision, specificity, and robustness of the assay.
Payne
Anne F
AF
The Arbovirus Laboratories, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, 5668 State Farm Rd., Slingerlands, NY 12159, USA.
Binduga-Gajewska
Iwona
I
Kauffman
Elizabeth B
EB
Kramer
Laura D
LD
D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D009033:Culicidae; D003716:Dengue Virus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004665:Encephalitis Virus, St. Louis / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005416:Flavivirus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D051379:Mice; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors; D014709:Vero Cells / Q000821:virology; D010948:Viral Plaque Assay / Q000379:methods*; D014902:West Nile virus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification
D005456:Fluorescent Dyes