title: Production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies that react to the nucleocapsid protein of avian metapneumovirus subtype C.
abstract: Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were prepared against avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) subtype C (aMPV/ Minnesota/turkey/1a/97). Six MAbs were selected based on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay activities and characterized by isotyping, neutralization test, western blot analysis, and immunohistochemistry assay. The results showed that three MAbs (3E, 9D, and 12C) belonged to the IgG1 subclass, whereas the other three (5D, 8E, and 16E) were of the IgG2a subclass. None of the six MAbs neutralized aMPV infectivity at a detectable level, but all reacted with both denatured and nondenatured forms of the nucleocapsid (N) protein of aMPV, suggesting that these MAbs may recognize structurally independent epitopes of the N protein. These MAbs provide new tools and methods for investigating aMPV infection and pathogenesis, as well as diagnosis of aMPV disease.
authors.affiliation: Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory, USDA Agricultural Research Service, 934 College Station Road, Athens, GA 30605, USA.
authors.forename: Qingzhong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Carlos N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Estevez
authors.forename: Darrell R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Kapczynski
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D029121:Metapneumovirus / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D019590:Nucleocapsid Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014709:Vero Cells
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D019590:Nucleocapsid Proteins