Development and characterization of serotype-specific monoclonal antibodies against Dengue virus NS1

Abstract

Dengue virus (DENV) is the most widely transmitted arbovirus in the world. Due to the lack of diagnostic technology to quickly identify the virus serotypes in patients, severe dengue hemorrhagic fever cases caused by repeated infections remain high. To realize the rapid differential diagnosis of different serotypes of DENV infection by immunological methods, in this study, four DENV serotype NS1 proteins were expressed and purified in mammalian cells. Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against NS1 protein were obtained by hybridoma technology after immunizing BALB/c mice. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, indirect immunofluorescence assay, dot blotting, and Western blotting were used to confirm the reactivity of MAbs to viral native NS1 and recombinant NS1 protein. These MAbs include not only the universal antibodies that recognize all DENV 1-4 serotype NS1, but also serotype-specific antibodies against DENV-1, DENV-2 and DENV-4. Double antibody sandwich ELISA was established based on these antibodies, which can be used to achieve rapid differential diagnosis of serotypes of DENV infection. Preparation of DENV serotype-specific MAbs and establishment of an ELISA technology for identifying DENV serotypes has laid the foundation for the rapid diagnosis of DENV clinical infection.