Production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies against the recombinant nucleoprotein of Araucaria hantavirus.

Hantaviruses are rodent-borne RNA viruses that cause hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) or hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). From the first detection of infection in Brazil in 1993 until 2009, 1161 cases of HPS have been reported, with mortality rates of around approximately 40%. Currently, due to the absence of a vaccine or specific antiviral therapy, the only way to reduce mortality by hantavirus infection is a fast and precise diagnosis that allows for supportive clinical health care. To improve the detection of hantavirus infection, we developed monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) against the nucleoprotein (rNDelta85) of the Araucaria hantavirus strain (ARAUV). The specificity of generated Mabs for rNDelta85 was demonstrated by western blot, indirect immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry. These are the first monoclonal antibodies to be produced and characterized against the South American hantavirus strain, and may be of special interest in the development of diagnostic assays and epidemiological studies.