EPSTEIN-BARR VIRUS STRAIN-SPECIFIC AND GROUP-SPECIFIC ANTIGENIC DETERMINANTS DETECTED BY MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODIES

To differentiate Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) strains by serological markers, hybridomas producing monoclonal antibodies against polypeptides of the QIMR-WIL EBV strain were prepared. These monoclonal antibodies were screened by indirect immunofluorescence techniques. Immunoprecipitation, using EBV-positive monoclonal antibodies and the protein A method, of 125I-labeled polypeptides from purified QIMR-MIL EBV particles revealed that a series of monoclonal antibodies against the 4 main surface and envelope polypeptides precipitating p340, p340/p240, p140 and p80 were obtained. When 125I-labeled polypeptides from purified P3HR-I and B95-8 EBV particles were immunoprecipitated, several anti-p340 (QIMR-WIL) antibodies recognized strain-specific antigenic determinants, while anti-p340/p240 (QIMR-WIL) and anti-pI40 (QIMR-WIL) antibody clones reacted with antigenic sites which are common to B95-8 or P3HR-I polypeptides. Monoclonal antibodies now provide a serological basis for EBV typing.