Serological characterization of Italian isolates of plum pox potyvirus1

An Italian isolate of plum pox potyvirus (PPV) from apricot, Ispave 17, was used as antigen for production of monoclonal antibodies. Six clones secreting specific antibodies to PPV were obtained. All these monoclonal antibodies were used to test a collection of different Italian PPV isolates, collected from plum, apricot and peach orchards, and other European isolates (including PPV-D and PPV-M serotypes), using DAS-ELISA, SDS-PAGE, western blot and GIEM. In western blot analysis, the PPV-M and PPV-D coat protein, detected directly from crude peach GF305 extracts, showed different electrophoretic mobility, the coat protein of PPV-M being slightly larger than that of PPV-D. ELISA tests, performed with fixed dilutions of antibodies and limiting dilutions of clarified samples, showed with some monoclonal antibodies a marked difference between PPV-M and PPV-D strains, at ratios greater than 1:40 (w/v). Also in GIEM some monoclonal antibodies gave a good labelling reaction only with PPV-D serotype. With the help of this differentiation, it was found that all Italian isolates tested were of the D serotype and none of the severe M strain of PPV, which has not been reported in Italy.     

Serotypic variation in turnip mosaic virus

A panel of 30 monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) was produced against four isolates of turnip mosaic virus (TuMV). The panel was tested in plate-trapped antigen ELISA tests against 41 TuMV isolates (with different host and geographical origins and of differing pathotypes). The antibodies were also tested against four other potyviruses (bean common mosaic virus, bean common mosaic necrosis virus, lettuce mosaic virus and zucchini yellow mosaic virus). The reactions were assessed quantitatively (using multivariate analysis) and qualitatively (using the standard deviation obtained against healthy leaf material). The MAbs recognized 16–17 TuMV epitopes that were not present in the other potyviruses and a further two potyvirus epitopes. The isolates were grouped into three serotypes. Only one isolate did not fit this grouping. The classification of seven isolates in coat protein amino acid sequence homology groups correlated with serotypes. There was no correlation between serotype and pathotype, or between reactions to individual MAbs and single lines. There was therefore no evidence that the epitopes recognized by the MAbs are elicitors for the resistance genes present in the Brassica napus lines. However, the sensitivity and specificity of the MAbs will be useful for both routine detection of TuMV and fundamental studies on plant–virus interactions.     

Comparison of monoclonal antibodies and polymerase chain reaction assays for the typing of isolates belonging to the d and m serotypes of plum pox potyvirus

ABSTRACT Plum pox potyvirus (PPV) isolates may be divided into four groups separated by serological, molecular, and epidemiological differences. Monoclonal antibodies specific for the two major groups of isolates, represented by the D and M serotypes of the virus, have been obtained. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assays allowing the direct detection and differentiation of PPV isolates have also been developed. We now report on a large-scale comparison of these two typing approaches. The results obtained show an overall excellent correlation between the results obtained in indirect double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using PPV-D- and PPV-M-specific monoclonal antibodies and those derived from either specific PCR assays or restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of PCR fragments. Without exception, all isolates reacting positively with the PPV-M-specific monoclonal antibody were found to belong to the M serotype using the PCR-based assays, while 51 out of 53 isolates recognized by the D-specific monoclonal antibodies belonged to the D serotype according to the PCR typing results. However, failure to react with a specific monoclonal antibody did not prove as effective a predictor of the serotype of the isolate analyzed. In a few cases, the results obtained with the various techniques diverged, indicating low level variability of the epitopes recognized by the serotype-specific monoclonal antibodies. Isolates belonging to the two minor groups of PPV (El Amar and Cherry) also gave divergent results, indicating that the current typing assays are not suited for the analysis of such isolates.     

Non-structural plum pox potyvirus proteins detected by immunogold labelling

Plum pox potyvirus (PPV) induces in infected Nicotiana clevelandii cells characteristic crystalline inclusions known as nuclear inclusions (NI) when located in the nucleus and as dense material (Dm) when located in the cytoplasm. Crystalline inclusions contain protease (NIa) and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (NIb) proteins. It is now well established for all potyviruses that cylindrical inclusions contain CI helicase ATPase protein (Martin et al., 1992). The intracellular location of other non-structural PPV proteins remains unknown. Using Escherichia coli expression vectors, specific antibodies were obtained against P1, P3, 6K2 and NIb PPV proteins for which antibodies were not yet available. As expected, NIb antiserum labelled crystalline inclusions. P1, P3 and 6K2 proteins were present in both types of crystalline inclusions found in the nucleus and in the cytoplasm of PPV-infected leaves of N. clevelandii, suggesting that nuclear inclusions and dense material were composed of the same proteins. This composition is discussed.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cucumber mosaic virus</Emphasis> groups IA and II are represented among isolates from naturally infected lilies

Four cucumber mosaic virus isolates (named Cas, CB, P26 and Simp2) found in naturally infected lily plants were characterized on the basis of their serological properties and the results of analysis of RNA3 sequence fragments containing coat protein and movement protein genes. The properties of lily isolates were compared with those of eight other virus isolates originating from dahlia, delphinium, impatiens, honeysuckle, cucumber and redcurrant plants. On the basis of the reaction with group-specific monoclonal antibodies and RNA3 sequence analysis, two lily isolates (Cas and CB) were classified to group I of CMV, similarly to all previously reported virus isolates found in lily plants. Surprisingly, sequences of coat protein and movement protein genes of two other lily isolates (P26 and Simp2) showed more than 98% similarity to CMV group II isolates, and only 77% similarity to group I isolates. Results of ELISA with CMV group II-specific monoclonal antibodies confirmed the classification of isolate Simp2 as a member of group II. Isolate P26 reacted neither with CMV group I nor with group II-specific monoclonal antibodies. In order to explain the lack of reaction of P26 isolate with monoclonal antibodies, comparative analysis of predicted amino acid sequence of the coat protein was done. This revealed a mutation—change from alanine at position 138 to threonine, probably responsible for particular serological properties of isolate P26.     

Cross reactions of an antiserum to plum pox potyvirus1

In the early spring of 1992, plum pox-like viruses (PPLVs) were detected by standard ELISA in some Prunus species. The isolates reacted positively with plum pox potyvirus (PPV) antisera in immunosorbent electron microscopy and Western blot analysis. In Western blot analyses, bands associated with the coat protein subunits of the PPLVs were 48–56 kDa, whereas bands associated with the coat protein subunits of known PPV isolates were 32–37 kDa in size. Also, the PPLVs differed from known PPV isolates in their symptoms on woody and herbaceous indicators, and in their herbaceous host range. None of these PPLVs appears to be an isolate of PPV.     

Detection and characterization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Citrus tristeza virus</Emphasis> stem pitting isolates in Jamaica

An island wide survey for Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) in citrus orchards across Jamaica (13 regions) was conducted over 2 years. Trees (1, 885) showing virus-like symptoms as well as asymptomatic trees were randomly sampled for testing by ELISA and 55 samples from the 6 major citrus growing regions were graft inoculated on indicator plants. Most samples (74%) reacted to polyclonal antibodies against CTV in ELISA, while 20% were positive in tests using monoclonal antibodies specific to severe CTV strains. Samples collected from the 6 major citrus growing regions produced vein clearing and stem pitting symptoms on Mexican lime indicator plants (87%). In addition, stem pitting symptoms were induced on Duncan grapefruit, sweet orange, sour orange or sweet orange grafted on sour orange. Nucleotide sequencing of the coat protein gene sequences isolated from these samples indicated high identities (88 to 95.5%) among the Jamaican isolates and previously reported stem pitting strains from Central and North America and Eurasia (88 to 100%). The results suggest a shared ancestry with isolates from other geographical locations, rather than geographical speciation, and presumably separate CTV introductions into Jamaica.     

Establishment of a relationship between grapevine leafroll closteroviruses 1 and 3 by use of monoclonal antibodies

Five stable hybridoma cell lines secreting monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) specific for GLRaV-1, one of the agents involved in the aetiology of grapevine leafroll disease, were produced by fusing a nonsecreting myeloma cell line with spleen cells from BALB/c mice immunized with purified GLRaV-1. The Mabs were characterized for their recognition of virus coat protein by DAS-ELISA and Western blotting. Mab (1G10) reacted specifically in ELISA, immuno-electron microscopy and immunoblotting with both GLRaV-1 and GLRaV-3 coat proteins. Mab 1C4 detected 25 of the 33 GLRaV-1 isolates, while Mab 1B7 reacted with 32 isolates including the eight isolates not recognized by Mab 1C4. Two of these hybridoma lines (2F11 and 2F3) are now used routinely for the immunodiagnosis of GLRaV-1.     

Epitope identification and <Emphasis Type="Italic">in silico</Emphasis> prediction of the specificity of antibodies binding to the coat proteins of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Potato Virus Y</Emphasis> strains

A phage library containing 2.7 × 10⁹ randomly expressed peptides was used to determine the epitopes of three monoclonal antibodies that bind to the coat protein of potato virus Y. Construction of the consensus sequences for the peptides obtained after three selection rounds indicated that each antibody recognized a different epitope located within the first 50 N-terminal amino acids of the coat protein. The location of the epitopes was confirmed by heterologous expression of the N-terminal part of the coat protein in Escherichia coli, and, subsequently, by performing an immunological test with the three antibodies. The accuracy of the phage library was demonstrated by predicting in silico the cross-reactivity of the three antibodies with other potyvirus family members. ELISA and in silico predictions revealed the same results in almost every case. The potential of peptide phage libraries to optimize the use of antibodies in plant virology is discussed.     

Analysis of the epitope structure of Plum pox virus coat protein

Typing of the particular Plum pox virus (PPV) strain responsible in an outbreak has important practical implications and is frequently performed using strain-specific monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). Analysis in Western blots of the reactivity of 24 MAbs to a 112-amino-acid N-terminal fragment of the PPV coat protein (CP) expressed in Escherichia coli showed that 21 of the 24 MAbs recognized linear or denaturation-insensitive epitopes. A series of eight C-truncated CP fragments allowed the mapping of the epitopes recognized by the MAbs. In all, 14 of them reacted to the N-terminal hypervariable region, defining a minimum of six epitopes, while 7 reacted to the beginning of the core region, defining a minimum of three epitopes. Sequence comparisons allowed the more precise positioning of regions recognized by several MAbs, including those recognized by the 5B-IVIA universal MAb (amino acids 94 to 100) and by the 4DG5 and 4DG11 D serogroup-specific MAbs (amino acids 43 to 64). A similar approach coupled with infectious cDNA clone mutagenesis showed that a V74T mutation in the N-terminus of the CP abolished the binding of the M serogroup-specific AL MAb. Taken together, these results provide a detailed positioning of the epitopes recognized by the most widely used PPV detection and typing MAbs.     

Diversity of Plum pox virus isolates in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Sixteen Plum pox virus (PPV) isolates from several stone fruit cultivars, host species, orchards and geographical areas of Bosnia and Herzegovina were selected for typing, using serotype-specific monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) and PCR–RFLP, targeting the 3' terminal region of the coat protein (CP) and P3-6K₁ with restriction enzymes Rsa I and Dde I. Four PPV isolates were identified as PPV-M by serology and PCR; eight isolates were identified as PPV-D based on PCR–RFLP on both genomic regions, but were not recognized by the D-specific MAb4DG5. Four isolates from plum were identified as natural D/M recombinants (PPV-Rec), based on conflicting results of CP and P3-6K₁ typing. To investigate the genetic diversity of Bosnian PPV isolates in more detail, five isolates (three PPV-Rec, one PPV-M and one PPV-D) were partially sequenced in the region spanning the 3' terminal part of the NIb gene and the 5'-terminal part of the CP gene, corresponding to nucleotides 8056–8884. Nucleotide sequence alignment of recombinant isolates showed that they were closely related at the molecular level to previously characterized recombinants from other European countries, and shared the same recombination break point in the 3' terminal part of the NIb gene. This is the first report of naturally infected Prunus trees with PPV-M, PPV-D and PPV-Rec in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The high variability of the Bosnian PPV isolates fits with the presence of this virus in the country over a long period.     

Evidence of the Presence of Two Serotypes of Rice Yellow Mottle Sobemovirus in Côte d'Ivoire

Serological variability of isolates of rice yellow mottle virus (RYMV) collected in Côte d'Ivoire was assessed by immunological tests with polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). Two serotypes (named S1 and S2) were distinguished. The S1 isolates had common epitopes which were absent in S2 isolates, whereas they lacked epitopes shared by S2 isolates. There was no evidence of S1 and S2 mixtures, although S1 and S2 isolates were sometimes found in nearby sites. Serotype S2 was more prevalent in Côte d'Ivoire than S1, and was in a large majority in the centre and the south of the country. By contrast, S1 occurred more widely in the north. S1 isolates were also found in neighbouring countries at the north of Côte d'Ivoire. In tests with monoclonal antibodies, three additional serotypes were found, one in West-Africa and two in East-Africa. Using the primers developed against an S2 isolate from Côte d'Ivoire, all S2 but not the S1 isolates were transcribed and amplified by RT-PCR, and another set of primers was developed to amplify S1 isolates. S1 and S2 have different biological properties, and competition between isolates of the two strains was apparent resulting in S2 dominance over S1. This was assessed using S1 and S2 strain specific MAbs, and it occurred whatever the pattern of inoculation or the rice variety tested. Differences in pathogenicity and virus titre did not account for strain competition, as there was no relation between symptom severity, virus content and serotype of the isolates in Oryza sativa indica cultivars.     

Detection and characterization of Plum pox virus: serological methods

Tremendous progress has been made in the research and development of Plum pox virus (PPV) serological reagents and methods in recent years. Two facts have revolutionised the serological detection and characterization of the virus: the development of the ELISA method in 1977, and the later emergence of specific monoclonal antibody technology. The availability of commercial kits has popularised PPV diagnosis, now making diagnosis possible at large scale for quarantine purposes, eradication programmes and control of the disease in nurseries. The use of the universal monoclonal antibody 5B-IVIA, used in DASI-ELISA, is the most accurate system for routine PPV detection. Likewise, the use of typing monoclonal antibodies gives exact characterization of the main PPV types described: 4DG5 for PPV-D, AL for PPV-M, EA24 for PPV-EA, and TUV and AC for PPV-C. There is, in general, an excellent correlation between serological data obtained with PPV specific monoclonal antibodies and data obtained by molecular PCR based methods. ELISA using a single or a mixture of monoclonal antibodies will remain the preferred method for universal detection and routine screening of PPV for years to come. Today, other serological methods and reagents are also recommended in the EPPO Diagnostic Protocol, increasing the number of reliable tests available for PPV detection. These developments have helped to control sharka disease in recent years. International co-operation in this field has been crucial to the improvement and validation of serological tools for PPV detection and characterization.     

Biological, serological, and molecular differences among isolates of potato a potyvirus

ABSTRACT Sequences of the coat protein (CP) and 3'-end nontranslated region (3'NTR) of 13 isolates and the helper component proteinase (HC) of nine isolates of potato A potyvirus (PVA) were determined and compared with the eight previously determined PVA CP and 3'NTR sequences and one HC sequence. CP amino acid (aa), 3'NTR nucleotide, and HC aa sequence identities were 92.9, 93.4, and 94.8%, respectively. Sequence data, serological tests, and the necrotic local lesions induced in the leaves of the potato hybrid 'A6' confirmed that tamarillo mosaic virus is a strain of PVA. The aa substitutions A6T and G7S in the CP N-terminus were correlated with loss of aphid transmissibility. Development of necrotic lesions or nonnecrotic symptoms in the systemically infected leaves or lack of systemic spread in potato cv. King Edward were used to place the PVA isolates into four strain groups, but this grouping was not correlated with any differences in CP, HC, or 3'NTR. Recognition of CP by three monoclonal antibodies was used to place the PVA isolates into three groups different from the four groups above. The epitopes of two mono-clonal antibodies were mapped by site-directed mutagenesis to the same lysine residue at the CP aa 34.     

Variability among turnip mosaic potyvirus isolates

ABSTRACT Eight turnip mosaic potyvirus (TuMV) isolates from the Campania region of Italy were characterized. Experiments based on host range and symptomatology indicated that the isolates were biologically different. In addition, the isolates, with the exception of ITA1 and ITA3, were distinguished from each other by using a combination of monoclonal antibodies recognizing the coat protein. Single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis of the coat protein gene revealed that each isolate produced a specific SSCP profile, except for isolates ITA1 and ITA3. This study indicates that (i) even in a small geographical region, there is a great deal of variation in TuMV isolates; (ii) the use of a set of four differential hosts does not always specify the same pathotype in different environments; (iii) the TuMV isolates with the same pathotype on Brassica napus test lines can still differ in host range, symptoms, serology, and SSCP; and (iv) there was perfect correlation between the panel of antibodies and SSCP in differentiating among the isolates; ITA1 and ITA3 were indistinguishable by either assay.     

The isolation and characterization of polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies to anastomosis group 8 of Rhizoctonia solani

Polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies were raised against secreted proteins from an anastomosis group 8 isolate of Rhizoctonia solani and tested for reactivity to field isolates from anastomosis groups 2-1, 3,4 and 8. Polyclonal antibodies raised against total secreted proteins cross-reacted in immunoblotting experiments with all R. solani isolates. However, immunoreactive proteins specific to Ag-8 isolates were evident. Monoclonal antibodies to secreted proteins were raised which reacted with fewer proteins and showed a greater degree of specificity for AG-8 isolates. Two monoclonals were selected for further study. One, an IgM monoclonal antibody, reacted with all R. solani isolates, recognizing a 40-kDa protein specific to AG-8 isolates and proteins of lower molecular weight in isolates from other anastomosis groups. The other, an IgG monoclonal antibody, was more specific, reacting with 38, 40 and 55-kDa proteins from AG-8 isolates and cross-reacting with few isolates from other anastomosis groups. Preliminary results on the induction of antigens recognized by the monoclonal antibodies are presented. The monoclonal antibodies characterized here are useful for the identification of isolates of R. solani and may also be used as probes to clarify the relationships between anastomosis groups.     

Production of Monoclonal Antibodies against Apple Proliferation Phytoplasma and their Use in Serological Detection

Two monoclonal antibodies were obtained against the apple proliferation phytoplasma that provide easy, rapid, specific and sensitive serological detection. They reacted specifically by using ELISA and immunofluorescence techniques with apple proliferation-infected periwinkles and apple trees from different regions in northern Italy and Slovenia, but not with several other phytoplasma isolates. We did not observe any monoclonal antibody reaction even using phytoplasmas belonging to the same phylogenetic group such as European stone fruit yellows and pear decline. Two serological techniques, immunofluorescence and ELISA, were compared with DAPI staining and PCR. From July until leaf fall ELISA was as sensitive as PCR but was more rapid and convenient than PCR; immunofluorescence was useful for specific detection of apple proliferation phytoplasma on roots throughout the year. Serological techniques could be conveniently applied in the roots, stems and leaves of apple trees depending on specific phenological stages of the plants.