Construction and Characterization of Monoclonal Antibodies Against Western Equine Encephalitis Virus

Abstract

A repertoire of mouse monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against western equine encephalitis virus (WEE) was constructed and characterized. Anti-WEE antibodies were expressed from hybridomas and purified by protein G chromatography. Each of the antibodies was functionally assessed by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), Western blotting, and immunoprecipitations. All antibodies bound to WEE antigen in ELISAs, whereas only a subgroup of antibodies was found to be active in Western blotting and immunoprecipitations. A subset of antibodies was found to cross-react with other alphaviruses, such as Sindbis virus (SIN), Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE), and eastern equine encephalitis (EEE). Because many of the antibodies were highly reactive to WEE antigen in one or more of the assays, these antibodies are excellent candidates for immunodetection and immunotherapy studies.

Identification of Western Equine Encephalitis Virus Structural Proteins That Confer Protection after DNA Vaccination

“…The total protein in each cell lysate sample was not normalized. The E1 and E2 proteins in the lysates were probed with monoclonal antibodies 11D2 and 3F3, respectively (8). As shown in Fig.…”

A Historical Review of Military Medical Strategies for Fighting Infectious Diseases: From Battlefields to Global Health

“…Even in this case, military research contributed to various aspects, from pathogenetic mechanisms to the effects of the virus on different animal models [ 682 , 683 , 684 , 685 ]. In addition, a repertoire of mouse monoclonal antibodies against WEEv has been characterized and shows promise for immunodetection and immunotherapy [ 686 ]. In the early 1990s, a formalin-inactivated vaccine (CM 4884), obtained from an attenuated strain, was developed by the US Army and made available under IND status [ 687 ].…”