Preparation and partial characterization of monoclonal antibodies against the protective protein antigen of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae

Thirteen mouse monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) against the protective protein antigen (P64) of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae were prepared and partially characterized. The titres of the Mabs varied from 200 to 1,638,400 as determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Of the 13 Mabs 10, two and one belonged to the IgG2a, IgG1 and IgM subclasses, respectively. All Mabs reacted strongly with the 64 kDa protein and weakly with the 43 kDa protein upon Western blotting of the alkaline extract (AE) of E. rhusiopathiae. The protective activity (PD50/ml) of the 13 Mabs against E. rhusiopathiae infection in mice varied from < 50 to > 50,000. These Mabs were classified into three groups, highly protective Mabs, moderately protective Mabs and Mabs which did not possess protective activity, based on the protective index (ratio of the PD50/ml to the antibody titre). These results suggest that the 64 kDa protein is an effective protective antigen, which is easily cleaved into many small proteins, including the 43 kDa protein, and possesses at least two epitopes related to its protective activity and at least one epitope which is not related to protection of mice against E. rhusiopathiae infection.     

Use of enzyme immunoassay in a serological survey of leptospirosis in sheep

A total of 731 serums, all from Merino rams from 20 farms, were tested for antibodies against Leptospira interrogans serovars hardjo, pomona and tarassovi using the microscopic agglutination test (MAT). The enzyme immunoassay (EIA) technique was used to test all serums for IgM and IgG antibodies to serovar hardjo. In the MAT, reactions to serovar hardjo were most common with 236 rams (32.3%) reacting at 1/100 or greater. Only 1.9% of serums reacted against serovar tarassovi and 1.1% against serovar pomona. The percentage of sheep with positive MAT reactions to serovar hardjo ranged from 0 0 to 94.9 between farms. When using EIA, 46 (6.2%) of the serums were positive for IgM antibody and 246 (33.6%) were positive for IgG antibody. Correlation of the EIA for detection of IgG antibody with the MAT was good. The EIA detection of IgG antibody was considered to be a good alternative test to the MAT for epidemiological studies in sheep.     

Production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies to cervine herpesvirus-1.

Fourteen hybridoma cell lines secreting monoclonal antibodies (Mab) to cervine herpesvirus-1 (CerHV-1) produced following the fusion of NSO myeloma cells with splenocytes of BALB/c mice previously immunized with gradient purified CerHV-1 were selected using an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) employing CerHV-1 antigen and tested by the ELISA against four other ruminant alphaherpesviruses from cattle (bovine herpesvirus type 1.1 and 1.2) goat (caprine herpesvirus-2) and reindeer (rangiferine herpesvirus-1). Comparison of all five ruminant alphaherpesviruses with these Mabs confirmed their close antigenic relationships, with two Mabs reacting against all viruses. Ten Mabs which were able to differentiate between the viruses reacted with a 64 kDa polypeptide in a western blot. Four Mabs including two specific only for CerHV-1 with neutralizing activity against the virus used for immunization were directed against a 74 kDa viral protein.     

猪戊型肝炎病毒Ⅳ型衣壳蛋白单克隆抗体的制备与鉴定

为获得猪戊型肝炎病毒(Hepatitis E virus,HEV)Ⅳ型衣壳蛋白单克隆抗体,将猪HEV衣壳蛋白的C端267(408—675)个氨基酸基因序列克隆入原核表达载体pET-28a(+),构建重组质粒pET-28a-ORF2-C,转化E.coli Rosetta(BL21)感受态细胞进行诱导表达,SDS-PAGE和Western blot鉴定,纯化后免疫小鼠。取免疫小鼠的脾脏与鼠骨髓瘤细胞SP2/0融合制备单克隆抗体。通过间接ELISA和竞争ELISA方法筛选并鉴定单抗。结果表明蛋白得到正确、高效表达,获得3株识别不同的抗原表位区的单克隆抗体,分别命名为Mab-1E4(IgG1)、Mab-2C7(IgG1)和Mab-2G9(IgG2b),其中1E4和2G9能阻断临床阳性猪血清,提示该2株单克隆抗体识别的抗原表位是猪HEVⅣ型衣壳蛋白上重要的抗原表位区,而单抗Mab-2C7不能阻断。本研究为猪HEVⅣ型的诊断及研究提供重要工具。     

Monoclonal precipitating antibodies to porcine immunoglobulin M

Fusion of splenic immunocytes from a porcine IgM-immunized BALB/c mouse with SP2/0 mouse myeloma cells resulted in 231 primary hybrids. Culture fluids of the primary hybrids were screened for antibody production by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) against porcine IgM and by radial immunodiffusion versus porcine serum. Culture fluids of 10 of the primary hybrids were positive in IgM-ELISA and radial immunodiffusion. Six of these primary hybrids (1A11, 1D10, 2D7, 2E2, 3B11, and 5C9) were cloned, and ascitic fluids were produced using cloned primary hybrids. The monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) in ascitic fluids were characterized as to their reactivity with porcine immunoglobulin isotypes. All six Mabs had mouse IgG1, K isotype and were mu-chain specific as they formed single precipitin lines against porcine serum and porcine IgM and no lines against porcine IgG, IgA, and fetal porcine serum in immunodiffusion and immunoelectrophoresis. In indirect ELISA, all Mabs reacted with porcine serum, porcine IgM, and mu-chains but did not react with porcine IgG, IgA, or light chains. All six Mabs were species-specific and recognized either of two antigenic regions of mu-chain. These Mabs have been successfully used to detect IgM-containing cells in tissue sections, to detect IgM in serum, and to quantitate surface membrane IgM-bearing cells in peripheral blood.     

Characterization of a 39kDa capsular protein of avian Pasteurella multocida using monoclonal antibodies

The role of a 39kDa protein of avian Pasteurella multocida in pathogenesis of fowl cholera was investigated using monoclonal antibodies (Mabs). Mabs were prepared by immunization of BALB/c mice with a crude capsular extract (CCE) of P. multocida strain P-1059 (serovar A:3). Totally eight hybridomas producing Mab were obtained. Immunoblot analysis of the hybridomas revealed that all the Mabs recognized a 39kDa protein of CCE. Treatment of CCE antigen with proteinase K or periodic acid indicated that the epitope recognized was proteinaceous. The Mabs reacted with a major 39kDa protein of CCE from encapsulated strains but not with any protein of non-capsulated strains indicating that a direct correlation between encapsulation and the 39kDa protein. Immunoelectron microscopy on strain P-1059 and the non-capsulated derivative P-1059B (serovar -:3) reacting with the Mabs and gold-labeled anti-mouse IgG indicated that the protein is associated with the capsule. The Mabs significantly inhibited the adherence of encapsulated P. multocida strains to chicken embryo fibroblast cells, but only slightly that of non-capsulated strains. Mice passively immunized with the Mabs were protected from lethal challenge with virulent strains P-1059 and X-73 (serovar A:1). Thus the capsular 39kDa protein was determined to be an adherence factor and a cross-protective antigen of avian P. multocida type A strains.     

Immunoglobulins in cattle vaccinated with leptospiral bacterins.

The growth-inhibition test was used to detect specific antibodies against Leptospira interrogans serotype hardjo in isolated immunoglobulin (IgG and IgM) fractions of serums from cattle vaccinated with leptospiral bacterins. The growth-inhibiting antibodies were detected mainly in the IgG class. Agglutinated clumps also occurred with the IgM fraction. The serums collected from cattle 4 months after vaccination were negative in the microscopic agglutination test.     

Analysis of IgG response to experimental infection with RH Toxoplasma gondii in goats.

The IgG response of goats experimentally infected with RH Toxoplasma gondii has been analysed using an indirect ELISA and Western-blot analysis. Specific IgG antibodies were first detected at 14 days post-inoculation (p.i.), reaching a peak by day 35 p.i. and showing slight fluctuations until the end of the experiment (91 p.i.). Specific IgG showed a reactivity over a whole range of peptides (125-24 kDa approximately), but the highest reactivity was observed against a group of antigens with a molecular weight between 34 and 28 kDa, in particular against a 30 kDa fraction which is considered to represent the major surface protein of T. gondii named p30 or SAG-1.     

Detection and characterization of leptospiral antigens using a biotin/avidin double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunoblot.

A biotin/avidin double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of antigens of Leptospira interrogans serovars in experimentally inoculated bovine urine samples was evaluated. Immunoglobulin G (IgG) from rabbits immunized with L. interrogans serovar hardjo type hardjobovis sonicated, whole cell, and formalinized-heated antigen preparations were purified by a protein A-superose column coupled to fast protein liquid chromatography, and evaluated for species specificity in the ELISA. The ELISA using each specific IgG detected as few as 10(4) leptospires of the homologous serovar hardjo diluted in phosphate-buffered saline solution with Tween 20 (PBSS-Tween 20). On immunoblot analysis of proteinase-K-digested whole cell leptospiral preparations, each IgG revealed the presence of bands specific to serovar hardjo, suggesting the presence of serovar-specific epitopes on the lipopolysaccharide molecules. The minimum number of cells of heterologous serovars pomona, grippotyphosa, bratislava, icterohaemorrhagiae and copenhageni detected by each ELISA was greater, ranging from 10(6) to 10(7). The common antigenic determinants observed on immunoblot analysis were different for each specific IgG, except for a major cross-reacting, possibly flagellar, protein doublet at approximately 36-36.5 kDa. Leptospires were equally well detected by the ELISA in both bovine urine and PBSS-Tween 20.     

Production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies to bovid herpesvirus-4

Thirty-five hybridoma cell lines secreting monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) against bovid herpesvirus-4 (BHV-4) strain V. Test were produced. These hybrid cells resulted from the fusion of SP2/0 myeloma cells with splenocytes of BALB/c mice previously immunized with purified BHV-4. A modified indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) was applied as a screening procedure and was compared with an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The selected Mabs were tested by the same IFAT against a panel of BHV-4 field isolates and against bovine herpesvirus-1, bovine herpesvirus-2 and alcelaphine herpesvirus-1 (AHV-1). Comparison of BHV-4 field isolates with Mabs confirmed their close antigenic relationships, but slight antigenic differences were observed between different isolates. One of the Mabs also reacted against AHV-1, indicating an antigenic relationship between BHV-4 and AHV-1. None of the Mabs reacting with BHV-4 possessed neutralizing activity against the strain used for immunization.     

Use of a monovalent leptospiral vaccine to prevent renal colonization and urinary shedding in cattle exposed to Leptospira borgpetersenii serovar hardjo.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a monovalent Leptospira borgpetersenii serovar hardjo (type hardjobovis) vaccine commercially available in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and the United Kingdom would protect cattle from renal colonization and urinary shedding when exposed to a US strain of Leptospira borgpetersenii serovar hardjo. ANIMALS: 24 Hereford heifers that lacked detectable antibodies against serovar hardjo. PROCEDURE: Heifers received 2 doses, 4 weeks apart, of the commercial hardjo vaccine (n = 8) or a monovalent US reference hardjo vaccine (8) or were not vaccinated (controls; 8). Heifers were challenged 16 weeks later by intraperitoneal inoculation or conjunctival instillation. Serum antibody titers were measured weekly, and urine samples were examined for leptospires. Heifers were euthanatized 11 to 14 weeks after challenge, and kidney tissue was examined for evidence of colonization. RESULTS: All 8 heifers vaccinated with the reference vaccine were found to be shedding leptospires in their urine and had evidence of renal colonization. All 4 control heifers challenged by conjunctival instillation and 2 of 4 control heifers challenged by intraperitoneal inoculation shed leptospires in their urine, and all 8 had evidence of renal colonization. In contrast, leptospires were not detected in the urine or tissues of any of the 8 heifers that received the commercial hardjo vaccine. Heifers that received the commercial hardjo vaccine had significantly higher antibody titers than did heifers that received the reference vaccine. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that cattle that received 2 doses of the commercial hardjo vaccine were protected against renal colonization and urinary shedding when challenged with L borgpetersenii serovar hardjo strain 203 four months after vaccination.     

Characterisation of monoclonal antibodies to Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease Virus of deer ( ) and Bluetongue Virus by immunisation of mice with recombinant VP7 antigen

Immunisation of mice with recombinant VP7 antigen of epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus of deer ( ) induced serum antibody responses to . However, from the 19 monoclonal antibodies (Mab) produced from these mice, 15 were specific for and four for bluetongue virus ( ). No Mabs were identified with the specificity for an epitope of VP7 shared by both and in spite of the fact that they share a large portion of homology in VP7 amino acids composition. These Mabs were divided into five groups based on their specificity and interaction with each other. Group II Mabs, consisting of 13 Mabs, recognises a potential serogroup specific, linear epitope of VP7 antigen. One of the Mabs to (Group V) was identified as VP7 specific with the possibility of being the serogroup specific and recognizes a potential conformational epitope. Two Mabs from these VP7 specific groups were further analysed and found to be useful in a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ( - ) for detection of specific antibodies against and in bovine sera.     

Lack of protection in vivo with neutralizing monoclonal antibodies to transmissible gastroenteritis virus

Monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) specific for the E1 and E2 surface glycoproteins of the transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) of swine were examined either alone or in combination to evaluate their potential value in protecting neonatal pigs against a lethal dose of TGEV. Cesarean-delivered colostrum-deprived (CDCD) piglets were given one pre-challenge dose of Mab and an equal dose of the same Mab at each successive feeding after challenge. In vivo challenge results demonstrated that neither Mabs given individually nor combinations of the Mabs were able to protect neonatal pigs against a lethal dose of TGEV. However, in parallel experiments, polyclonal antibodies from immune colostrum or serum were protective.     

Characterisation of monoclonal antibodies to epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus of deer (EHDV) and bluetongue virus by immunisation of mice with EHDV recombinant VP7 antigen.

Immunisation of mice with recombinant VP7 antigen of epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus of deer (EHDV) induced serum antibody responses to EHDV. However, from the 19 monoclonal antibodies (Mab) produced from these mice, 15 were specific for EHDV and four for bluetongue virus (BTV). No Mabs were identified with the specificity for an epitope of VP7 shared by both EHDV and BTV in spite of the fact that they share a large portion of homology in VP7 amino acids composition. These Mabs were divided into five groups based on their specificity and interaction with each other. Group II Mabs, consisting of 13 Mabs, recognises a potential serogroup specific, linear epitope of EHDV VP7 antigen. One of the Mabs to BTV (Group V) was identified as BTV VP7 specific with the possibility of being the serogroup specific and recognizes a potential conformational epitope. Two Mabs from these VP7 specific groups were further analysed and found to be useful in a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (C - ELISA) for detection of specific antibodies against EHDV and BTV in bovine sera.     

Attempts to characterize bovine viral diarrhea virus isolated from cattle after immunization with a contaminated vaccine

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) was isolated from 28 animals with a history of immunization against respiratory disease with a vaccine contaminated with BVDV. The vaccine-derived parental virus strain and the 28 isolates were analyzed using 10 monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) directed against different epitopes and antigenic domains on the major envelope glycoprotein of BVDV. None of the isolates displayed a reaction pattern identical with the parental virus. Instead, seven different reaction patterns (#A-G) emerged. Circumstantial evidence indicated that six of these were vaccine related whereas in one case (pattern #F) the origin of the isolate was unclear. The results indicated that BVDV rapidly changed during animal passages and that the tracing of the vaccine contaminant using Mabs was impossible.     

Study of bovine herpesvirus type 1 strains with monoclonal antibodies.

Fourteen strains of bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BHV-1, IBRV) representing all three groups of BHV-1 (BHV-1.1, BHV-1.2, BHV-1.3) were studied by ELISA using 106 monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) produced against BHV-1. On the basis of the ELISA, the Mabs could be divided into three groups. The first group (40 Mabs, 38%) reacted with all strains, the second group (43 Mabs, 41%) with the respiratory and genital strains (BHV-1.1 and BHV-1.2) while the third group (23 Mabs, 22%) only with the respiratory strains. Only 5 out of the antibodies neutralized respiratory and genital strains, and none of them neutralized the encephalitogenic strains (1.3). Three Mabs selected from each of the 3 groups, and the above five neutralizing strains were studied by Western blot. Antibodies of groups 1 and 3, and two neutralizing antibodies bound to a 90k protein (gpIII), whereas members of group 2 and 3 neutralizing antibodies reacted with a 74k and a 130k protein (both gpl). The results indicate that reactivity with monoclonal antibodies is as suitable for the classification of BHV-1 strains as is restriction endonuclease (RE) analysis but it cannot distinguish between subgroups within the groups.     

Identification of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae strains of serotypes 7 and 4 using monoclonal antibodies: demonstration of common LPS O-chain epitopes with Actinobacillus lignieresii

Monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) against Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 7 were produced and characterized. Three Mabs directed against surface polysaccharides were selected. One of the Mabs was directed against a capsular polysaccharide epitope (CPS) of A. pleuropneumoniae serotype 7 whereas two other Mabs reacted with different epitopes of the LPS O-chain. One of the latter reacted with the reference strain of serotype 7 and the other one with serotypes 7 and 4. These three Mabs were used to test, by Dot-ELISA, 508 field strains of A. pleuropneumoniae. None of the strains belonging to other serotypes different from serotypes 4 and 7 were positive with the Mabs. Used in combination, the CPS and one of the LPS O-chain directed Mabs were shown to be suitable for serotyping since they detected 100% of serotype 7 strains. In this study, we confirm for the first time that A. pleuropneumoniae serotype 4 is present in North America. Finally, both O-chain specific Mabs also reacted with the O-chain of Actinobacillus lignieresii. The cross-reactivity between the two species was confirmed using sera from pigs experimentally infected with A. pleuropneumoniae serotype 7 and A. lignieresii, using immunoblotting and ELISA. This is the first report of a specific cross-reactivity between the LPS of these bacterial species.     

Evaluation of the immune response of cattle to leptospiral bacterins.

Cattle were vaccinated against leptospirosis with 3 bacterin preparations: (a) trivalent (serotypes grippotyphosa, pomona, and hardjo) whole cell bacterin; (b) bivalent pomona and hardjo whole cell bacterin; and (c) pentavalent (canicola, grippotyphosa, icterohaemorrhagiae, pomona, and hardjo) cell wall bacterin. Microscopic agglutinating antibody responses in cattle given the last-named bacterin were higher than those in cattle vaccinated with the 2 whole cell bacterins (trivalent and bivalent). However, microscopic agglutinating antibody responses occurred in all vaccinated cattle after they were given a challenge inoculation of serotype hardjo. Leptospires were isolated from 2 of 4 challenge controls (i.e., not given any bacterin), but none of the 15 vaccinated cattle given any one of the bacterins and then challenge inoculated with hardjo became culturally positive. It was concluded that the 3 multivalent bacterins were protective against experimental challenge inoculation of hardjo.     

Seroepidemiological studies of the detection of leptospires of the sejroe group in cattle in middle Thuringia]

From 1983 to 1989 14,361 head of cattle from the middle Thuringia region were investigated by means of microagglutination test for the presence of Leptospira serovars hardjo, saxkoebing and sejroe. 4,484 samples from cattle with abortion (1983-1985) and a random sample of 5,284 cattle sera (1985) were investigated giving priority to L. hardjo. Furthermore 3,293 samples from cattle with abortion (1986/87) and a random samples test of 1,300 cattle sera (1989) were tested giving priority to L. saxkoebing. 2.5 percent of the cows having aborted and 10.3 percent of cattle tested out of the whole livestock showed antibodies against L. hardjo. The test for presence of L. saxkoebing demonstrated in cattle with abortion a seroprevalence of 14 percent and in the random samples tests a portion of reagents of 11.3 percent. The degree of infection differed regionally, the highest degree was found in livestocks of the northern part of the Thuringia forest. The prevalence of L. saxkoebing in cattle with abortion from large dairy farms was 18.6 percent, which is higher than the average in the region examined. Antibodies against hardjo and sejroe were interpreted as caused by cross reactivity.     

Isolation of Leptospira hardjo from kidneys of Ontario cattle at slaughter.

Kidneys from 117 cattle from 110 Ontario farms were examined at slaughter for leptospires. Leptospira hardjo (hardjo-bovis A) was isolated from 11 kidneys and L. kennewicki from one. The isolations were all made (12/89, 13.5%) from beef cattle from feedlots, no isolates being obtained from dairy or beef cattle from extensive farms (0/28). Isolations were only made from cattle with antibody titers (greater than or equal to 20) against the serovars recovered. Isolation was more sensitive than immunofluorescence in identifying leptospira, particularly in animals with low antibody titers against L. hardjo. Leptospira were isolated from two kidneys with multiple gross lesions of focal nephritis, but there was no correlation between the presence of scanty kidney lesions and isolations of leptospira. Leptospira hardjo infection appears to be common in Ontario feedlot cattle.