Changes in Serological Reactivity of Papaya leaf distortion mosaic virus Caused by Papain in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Carica papaya </Emphasis>L. and Its Detection Using Antipain or Papain

Losses in serological reactivity of Papaya leaf distortion mosaic virus (PLDMV) were demonstrated. An antibody, IgG-papaya, raised against PLDMV purified from papaya (Carica papaya L.) did not react with virus particles in Cucumis metuliferus leaf extracts in ELISA or SSEM-PAG (serologically specific electron microscopy using protein A-gold). In addition, IgG-papaya and IgG- Cucumis raised against PLDMV purified from C. metuliferus did not react with virus particles in papaya leaf extracts after western blotting. From results of electrophoresis, the coat protein (CP) of PLDMV purified from papaya had degraded and migrated in two bands. Similar degradation was also observed when virus purified from C. metuliferus was treated with papain. These results indicated that the CP of PLDMV purified from papaya was degraded during the purification process by papain in the host plant. IgG-papaya was reactive to papain-degraded CP, while IgG-Cucumiswas reactive to both intact and degraded CP. Modified serological methods using antipain (a protease inhibitor) or papain were established to detect PLDMV. Received 16 February 2001/ Accepted in revised form 26 September 2001