Requirements for Induction of Semliki Forest Virus Neutralizing Antibodies by a Non-Internal Image Monoclonal Antibody

Abstract

Listen

Translate article

Recently we identified a noninternal image monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibody (ab2β MAb), designated 1.13A321 (IgG1), that, cross-linked by glutaraldehyde to keyhole limpet haemocyanin (KLH) and combined with the adjuvant Quil A, was able to evoke Semliki Forest Virus (SFV) neutralizing anti-anti-idiotypic (ab3) antibodies in BALB/c mice (Oosterlaken et al, 1991; Oosterlaken et al, 1992). These antibodies protected mice against an otherwise lethal infection with SFV. In this study conditions for induction of SFV-neutralizing ab3 antibodies were investigated. It is shown that cross-linking of 1.13A321 to itself by glutaraldehyde is sufficient to evoke SFV-neutralising ab3 antibodies. Furthermore a recombinantly expressed protein consisting of cro-β-galactosidase at the N-terminus and aminoacid residues 115 to 151 of the E2 membrane protein of SFV at the C-terminus was used as carrier molecule (Snijders et al, 1989). The SFV fragment contains two T-helper cell epitopes which might potentially provide an SFV specific T-cell memory upon immunization (Snijders et al, 1992). Furthermore the potential of ab2 MAb 1.13A321 as carrier for a linear B-cell epitope of SFV was investigated.