Direct serotyping of human rotavirus in stools by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using serotype 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-specific monoclonal antibodies to VP7.

Four serotypes of human rotaviruses that can be differentiated by neutralization tests have been described so far. We prepared serotype 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-specific, neutralizing monoclonal antibodies to human rotaviruses. All were directed to VP7, a glycoprotein that carries a major serotype specificity. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using these monoclonal antibodies has been developed for serotyping human rotavirus isolates. The sensitivity and specificity of this method were verified by using various strains of human rotavirus that were adapted to cell culture. Furthermore, it was shown that the method was applicable to serotyping human rotaviruses directly in stool specimens.