Monoclonal Antibodies Specific for Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Mediate Antiviral Effects in Vitro and in Vivo

Abstract

Nine hybrid cell lines derived from four independent cell fusions produce monoclonal antibodies specific for herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). The reactivity of each monoclonal antibody was characterized by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA), virus neutralization, complement-dependent cytolysis (CDC) and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). Results of these tests showed that ascites fluid from two of the nine lines (D8 and G8) neutralized virus infectivity. Hybridoma line G8 was also effective in mediating CDC and ADCC. Both lines were further tested for their ability to protect mice from lethal ocular infection with HSV-1. Four week old Balb/c mice infected ocularly with HSV-1 develop viral encephalitis and die in 10–12 days. Passive transfer of hyperimmune rabbit anti-HSV-1 serum does protect the host against virus challenge when given within 48 hours postinfection. Preliminary experiments have shown that passive transfer of monoclonal antibody from both G8 and D8 hybridomas independently confers protection against fatal herpetic encephalitis.