[Antigenic analysis of tick-borne encephalitis virus group using monoclonal antibodies and immunofluorescence]. / Antigennyi analiz virusov gruppy kleshchevogo éntsefalita s ispol'zovaniem monoklonal'nykh antitel i immunofliuorestsentsii.

ABSTRACT

The study included 18 monoclonal antibodies (MAb) to E- or NS1-antigens tested by immunofluorescence with tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) complex viruses. MAb were induced to 3 strains of TBE virus the pathogenic 4072 strain isolated from a patient; the Skalica strain of low pathogenicity; and the Neidorf strain isolated from ticks. According to their reactivity to complex viruses, MAb comprised 3 groups monospecific for TBE virus (T6, T15) which detected tick-borne encephalitis virus alone; widely cross-reactive with 4-6 viruses of the complex (NEK, KEN, T7, T9); and partially complex-reactive (T11, T12, T13, T33/3) and bound to 2-3 viruses of the complex. T13 and T33/3 MAb reacted with the Omsk hemorrhagic fever virus to the same degree or stronger than with TBE virus. The cross-reactivity was more marked in anti-E-than in anti-NS1 MAb. The similarity of the Langat viruses and the Skalica strain was confirmed. Using anti-NS1 MAb in tests with non-fixed cells, the release of NS1-antigen was found to begin at hour 18 (time of observation). The results of the study may be useful for improvement of laboratory diagnosis of TBE and evaluation of the capacity of a vaccine to induce cross immunity to viruses of the TBE complex.