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Title: Production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies that react to the nucleocapsid protein of avian metapneumovirus subtype C

Author
item Yu, Qingzhong
item Estevez, Carlos
item Kapczynski, Darrell

Submitted to: Avian Diseases
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/29/2006
Publication Date: 9/1/2006
Citation: Yu, Q., Estevez, C., Kapczynski, D.R. 2006. Production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies that react to the nucleocapsid protein of avian metapneumovirus subtype C. Avian Diseases. 50(3):419-424.

Interpretive Summary: Avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) causes an acute upper respiratory tract infection of turkeys, and is associated with swollen head syndrome in chickens. Diagnosis and detection of aMPV infections are difficult because of the lack of clinical signs of disease and difficulty of isolating the virus from the infected birds. Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against aMPV subtype C virus were generated for detection and diagnosis of aMPV. The results indicate all MAbs reacted with the nucleocapsid protein of aMPV. These MAbs provide new tools for investigating aMPV infection, and diagnosis of aMPV disease.

Technical Abstract: Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were prepared against avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) subtype C (aMPV/Minnesota/turkey/1a/97). Six MAbs were selected based on ELISA activities and characterized by isotyping, neutralization test, Western blot analysis, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) assay. The results showed that three MAbs (3E, 9D and 12C) belonged to IgG1 subclass, whereas the other three (5D, 8E and 16E) were of the IgG2a subclass. All six MAbs reacted with both denatured and non-denatured forms of the nucleocapsid (N) protein of aMPV, but did not neutralize aMPV infectivity at a detectable level, suggesting that these MAbs may recognize structurally independent epitopes located outside of the functional domain of the N protein associated with virus replication. These MAbs provide new tools and methods for investigating aMPV infection, pathogenesis, and diagnosis of aMPV disease.