ABSTRACT
An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is described for the serologic analysis of antibodies to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated nuclear antigen (EBNA), viral capsid antigen (VCA), and early antigen (EA). The specificity of each of the ELISAs was demonstrated by the use of well-characterized human sera shown by immunofluorescence assay to be variously reactive for antibodies to one or more of the three viral antigens studied. The ELISA for EBNA was four to 256 times more sensitive than immunofluorescence assays with all 33 EBNA-positive sera tested. The ELISAs for VCA and EA were also more sensitive than immunofluorescence assays: approximately 50% of the sera tested showed higher antibody titers. Sera that were negative for all three antigens by immunofluorescence assay were also negative by ELISA for each antigen. These ELISAs for EBV are rapid, sensitive, and objective and thus provide new and valuable methods for the detection of antibodies to EBV-related antigens.
Subject(s)
Antibodies, Viral/analysis , Antigens, Viral/analysis , Antigens, Viral/immunology , Herpesvirus 4, Human/immunology , Capsid/immunology , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Epitopes , Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens , Evaluation Studies as Topic , Fluorescent Antibody Technique , HumansABSTRACT
Five murine hybridoma lines that produce monoclonal antibodies against Epstein-Barr virus membrane antigen (MA) were established. Immunoprecipitation experiments demonstrated that three of the antibodies precipitated both the 236,000 (236K) MA and the 212K MA. The other two antibodies precipitated the 86K MA. Antibodies against the 236K-212K MA and the 86K MA mediated complement-dependent cytolysis of Epstein-Barr-virus-infected cells. The antibodies against the 86K MA neutralized both the B95-8 and P3HR-1 viruses.
