COMPARISON OF NEUTRALIZATION OF BPV-1 INFECTION OF C127 CELLS AND BOVINE FETAL SKIN XENOGRAFTS

BPV-1 induces focus formation in murine C127 cells and fibropapillomas in bovine fetal skin xenografts. In this study, we compared the specificity of neutralization of BPV-1 in both assay systems, using sera and monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) selected to define neutralizing epitopes. Sera from rabbits and cattle, inoculated with intact BPV-1 or BPV-2 virions, neutralize BPV-1 infectivity in both C127 cells and xenografts. Selected human sera and murine MAbs that react with intact BPV-1 particles, serum of a rabbit immunized with denatured BPV-1 particles, and sera from calves vaccinated with a recombinant L1 fusion protein did not neutralize BPV-1 infection in either system. It was concluded that neutralization of BPV-1 infection of C127 cells and bovine fetal skin xenografts by hyperimmune sera is specific and concordant for both assay systems, and involves conformational BPV-1 capsid epitopes.