Characterization of human monoclonal antibodies directed against the pp65-kD matrix antigen of human cytomegalovirus.

Human monoclonal antibodies specific for human cytomegalovirus (CMV) antigens have been established using peripheral blood lymphocytes from a seropositive donor. Immortalization of antigen-specific B cells was achieved by Epstein-Barr virus transformation followed by somatic cell fusion of antigen-specific lymphoblastoid cells. Four clones producing high-affinity antibodies (0.2-7 x 10(9) M-1) specific for the viral matrix protein pp65 have been further characterized with respect to epitope specificity of secreted antibodies. The studied antigen represents a major protein produced by in vitro-cultivated virus, and is important in the serodiagnosis of CMV infection. The human monoclonal antibodies recognized different epitopes, some of which proved to be overlapping. The fine specificity of these antibodies was evaluated using synthetic peptides covering the sequence of pp65. The antibody MO58 recognized a linear epitope (residues 283-288) whereas antibody MO53 recognized a discontinuous epitope involving residues 208-216 and 280-285. Despite the close proximity of these epitopes, the antibodies did not compete with each other for the same binding site on intact antigen.