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Serotyping plant viruses with monoclonal antibodies

1986; Academic Press; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/0076-6879(86)18115-8

1557-7988

Edward L. Halk,

Plant and Fungal Interactions Research

This chapter discusses the use of monoclonal antibodies for the characterization and detection of the intact virus or its structural proteins. Monoclonal antibodies are ideal reagents for characterizing serological differences among plant viruses. Each monoclonal antibody is specific for a single antigenic determinant; therefore, analyses of many virus strains can be made on this basis. Hybridomas are somatic cell hybrids made by fusing B lymphocytes with myeloma cells. The hybridoma acquires from its lymphocyte parent the ability to produce a specific antibody and from its myeloma cell parent the ability to be cultured indefinitely. Antibodies produced by a single hybridoma clone are identical and are specific for a single antigenic determinant. Serotyping plant viruses with monoclonal antibodies by various enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) procedures provides a rapid and reliable method for detecting serological relations among viruses. These assays can be done on an epitope by epitope basis, providing a level of precision that cannot be obtained with polyclonal antisera. Use of this technique depends on the production and selection of monoclonal antibodies that are capable of differentiating epitopes on a number of virus serotypes.