Preparation and characterization of a neutralizing monoclonal antibody directed to VP4 of rotavirus strain K8 which has unique VP4 neutralization epitopes.

For selecting the neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (N-MAbs) directed to VP4 of rotavirus strain K8, which has unique VP4 neutralization epitopes, we prepared several reassortant viruses by mixed infection of two different strains K8 (serotype 1) and P (serotype 3) in vitro: three reassortant clones having VP4 of K8 and VP7 of P and four clones having VP4 of P and VP7 of K8. By using these reassortants in screening hybridomas, a N-MAb (K8-2C12) directed to strain K8-specific VP4 was obtained. The MAb K8-2C12 neutralized only K8 when tested against numerous strains of different serotypes, while in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay this MAb reacted also with simian rotavirus SA11 (serotype 3), bovine rotavirus NCDV (serotype 6), and human rotavirus (HRV) strain 69M (serotype 8). Neutralization-resistant mutants of K8 were selected by the K8-2C12 antibody and VP4 amino acid sequences of the mutants were determined. Single amino acid substitution was detected in the three mutant clones at position 394, which is included in the major cross-reactive neutralization region identified in other rotaviruses.