A capture ELISA for monitoring papillomavirus-induced antibodies in Mastomys coucha.
The present report describes the development of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), whereby the first insights have been obtained into the humoral immune response to papillomavirus (PV) infections of the rodent Mastomys coucha, a natural model for papillomavirus-induced skin carcinogenesis. The established glutathione S-transferase (GST)-capture ELISA is based on a one-step purification of bacterially expressed antigens and was designed to detect serum antibodies against L1 capsid proteins of Mastomys natalensis papillomavirus (MnPV) and M. coucha papillomavirus 2 (McPV2). Both viruses are spread widely within the colony at the German Cancer Research Center. The animals are unique in that they spontaneously develop multiple epithelial tumors such as MnPV-induced papillomas and McPV2-induced condylomas. The humoral immune response of a cohort of 98 Mastomys was analysed and revealed a high prevalence of antibodies to L1 (MnPV: 36.7%, McPV2: 52.0%). Furthermore, the seroreactivity to both viruses was significantly increased in animals with the respective tumors (22 papillomas, 21 condylomas) as compared to 55 tumor-free controls (MnPV: p<0.0001; McPV2: p=0.0022). The identified assay conditions showed a high level of sensitivity (MnPV: 75.7%; McPV2: 85.7%) and reproducibility (MnPV: R(2)=0.83; McPV2: R(2)=0.79), validating the GST-capture ELISA as a powerful method for monitoring papillomavirus serology in M. coucha.
Schäfer
Kai
K
Infection and Cancer Program, Division Viral Transformation Mechanisms, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany.
Waterboer
Tim
T
Rösl
Frank
F
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051189:Murinae / Q000821:virology*; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000276:immunology*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000821:virology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins