Antigenicity analysis of nucleocapsid proteins of 3 human coronaviruses SARS-CoV, 229E and OC43 with their monoclonal antibodies / 南方医科大学学报

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To prepare and characterize monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against the recombinant nucleocapsid (N) protein of 3 human coronaviruses SARS-CoV, 229E and OC43 and study the antigenic relationship between the 3 N proteins.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>BALB/c mice were immunized with the recombinant N proteins of SARS-CoV, 229E and OC43 to obtain the mAbs by means of hybridoma. Screening and identification of the mAbs were performed using indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Western blotting and indirect immunofluorescence assay. Cross-reactivity between the N proteins of the 3 coronaviruses was analyzed with the prepared mAbs.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mAbs against the recombinant N proteins of SARS-CoV, 229E and OC43 were obtained, which reacted specifically with the corresponding viral N protein as shown by indirect ELISA, Western blotting and indirect immunofluorescence assay. No cross-reactivity was found between the 3 N proteins.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The prepared mAbs against the recombinant N proteins may provide valuable assistance in studying antigenic relationships of N proteins between the 3 human coronaviruses.</p>