Monoclonal antibodies to SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV): Identification of neutralizing and antibodies reactive to S, N, M and E viral proteins

Journal of Virological Methods
Volume 128, Issues 1–2, September 2005, Pages 21-28

Ralph A. Tripp, Lia M. Haynes, Deborah Moore, Barbara Anderson, Azaibi Tamin, Brian H. Harcourt, Les P. Jones, Mamadi Yilla, Gregory J. Babcock, Thomas Greenough, Donna M. Ambrosino, Rene Alvareza, Justin Callaway, Sheana Cavitt, Kurt Kamrud, Harold Alterson, Jonathan Smith, Jennifer L. Harcourt…Larry J. Anderson.

Abstract

Monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) against the Urbani strain of the SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) were developed and characterized for reactivity to SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV S, N, M, and E proteins using enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent (ELISA), radioimmunoprecipitation, immunofluorescence, Western Blot and microneutralization assays. Twenty-six mAbs were reactive to SARS-CoV by ELISA, and nine were chosen for detailed characterization. Five mAbs reacted against the S protein, two against the M protein, and one each against the N and E proteins. Two of five S protein mAbs neutralized SARS-CoV infection of Vero E6 cells and reacted to an epitope within amino acids 490–510 in the S protein. While two of the three non-neutralizing antibodies recognized at second epitope within amino acids 270–350. The mAbs characterized should prove useful for developing SARS-CoV diagnostic assays and for studying the biology of infection and pathogenesis of disease.

Keywords

SARS-coronavirus, Monoclonal antibody, Immunoassay, Epitope, Neutralizing