Monoclonal antibodies specific for Hantaan virus

Abstract

Six hybridoma cell line producing monoclonal antibodies to Hantaan virus were established by fusion of NS-1 mouse myeloma cells with spleen cells of mice immunized with Hantaan virus strain 76-118. The specificity of these monoclonal antibodies was established by immunoblotting analysis and immunofluorescence. Five of the clones reacted with antigens on the cell surface and in the cytoplasm, and one clone reacted with a determinant expressed only in the cytoplasm of the infected cells. Two of the clones produced antibodies that reacted with a Mr 50,000 polypeptide in virus-infected cellular extracts and purified virus preparations. The monoclonal antibodies were used to examine the antigenic relationship among Hantaan virus strains and between Hantaan virus and Prospect Hill virus and the virus of nephropathia epidemica. Three antibodies were capable of distinguishing between the Lee strain and the 760-118 strain of Hantaan virus and three additional antibodies reacted with determinants shared by both virus strains. None of the six reacted with Prospect Hill virus or the virus of nephropathia epidemica.