title: Characterization of monoclonal antibodies to hepatitis E virus (HEV) capsid protein and identification of binding activity.
abstract: Twenty-seven monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) recognizing the open reading frame 2 structural protein of the Pakistan strain of hepatitis E virus (HEV) were generated by conventional hybridoma technique. These Mabs were characterized by ELISA, affinity-capture reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (AC/RT-PCR), immune electron microscopy (IEM), and a RT-PCR based seroneutralization assay. Twenty-seven Mabs were positive by ELISA. By AC/RT-PCR, 24 Mabs bound to Pakistan and Namibia HEV strains. Thirteen Mabs were examined by IEM. Nine Mabs, positive by ELISA and AC/RT-PCR, bound and aggregated to Mexican HEV strain. We tested five Mabs that were positive by ELISA, AC/RT/PCR, and IEM by a RT-PCR based seroneutralization assay. Only one Mab (Mab 7) showed activity that inhibited the ability of HEV to attach to Alexander hepatoma cells (PLC-PRF-5). When Mab 7 was diluted to 1: 160, its inhibition activity persisted suggesting that Mab 7 might be a potential candidate for further evaluation in primates (passive protection experiments).
authors.affiliation: Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, 1413 Research Boulevard, Rockville, MD 20850, USA. junkun.he@afip.osd.mil
authors.forename: Junkun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Kuschner
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dewar
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Voet
authors.forename: Ludmila V
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Asher
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Vaughn
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D016752:Hepatitis E virus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D016253:Microscopy, Immunoelectron; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D036022:Capsid Proteins