title: Construction and characterization of monoclonal antibodies specific for the R transactivator 185 of Epstein-Barr virus.
abstract: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several human malignancies including B lymphomas and nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The EBV R transactivator (Rta) has been found to play essential roles in stimulating a lytic cycle and viral gene expression. Recently, it was shown that ELISA detecting serum IgG-Rta(150+185) (two internal fragments of Rta) levels may be useful as a serological parameter to assist in the diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The present studies were to prepare monoclonal antibodies specific for the Rta185 and provide a useful tool for the detection of Rta. For this purpose, two monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) specific for the Rta185 were generated. They were identified by Western blot, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunofluorescence analysis. The results revealed two different immunofluorescence patterns in EBV-positive B cells and epithelial cells, and suggested that there might be a difference in EBV replication mode between B cells and epithelial cells. The Mabs obtained in this study have a potential for the diagnosis of EBV associated diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Biology, West China School of Preclinical and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: Yin-Hua
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Ye-Sheng
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wei-Bo
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Geng-Qian
authors.initials: GQ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D015153:Blotting, Western; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology*; D014760:Viral Fusion Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; C068382:BRLF1 protein, Human herpesvirus 4; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014760:Viral Fusion Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins