Neutralization of porcine transmissible gastroenteritis virus by complement-dependent monoclonal antibodies.

Monoclonal antibodies (MAB) to each of the 3 major structural proteins of transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) of swine were compared, using their virus-neutralizing (VN) activity in the presence or absence of guinea pig, rabbit, or swine complement. The MAB against the peplomer protein had similar VN titers for TGEV in the presence or absence of complement from any source. The MAB against the matrix protein had VN activity for TGEV only in the presence of complement, whereas MAB specific for the nucleocapsid protein did not possess VN activity in the presence or absence of complement. Serum from sows containing antibodies against TGEV peplomer and matrix proteins had slightly higher VN titers in the presence of complement than in the absence of complement. High concentrations of complement from swine serum (128 U) had little effect on the infectivity of TGEV for swine testes cells, whereas 32 U of complement from rabbit serum and 64 U of complement from guinea pig serum were able to neutralize virulent and attenuated TGEV in the absence of known antibodies for TGEV. Complement (less than or equal to 8 U) from any source did not decrease the infectivity of TGEV by greater than 0.5 log10 units.