Rapid determination of neutralizing antibodies to Semliki Forest virus in serum by enzyme immunoassay in cell culture with virus-specific monoclonal antibodies.

We describe in this study a rapid enzyme immunoassay for the titration of neutralizing antibodies in serum against Semliki Forest virus. For this assay L cells were added to preincubated virus-antiserum mixtures to form monolayers. Six hours after infection by residual, nonneutralized virus, the monolayers were fixed, and the E2 glycoprotein of Semliki Forest virus on the surface of infected cells was quantified with an E2-specific, peroxidase-labeled monoclonal antibody (UM 5.1). The serum antibody titer was defined arbitrarily as the inverse value of that dilution of serum associated with a 25% inhibition of control absorbance values. These titers of both early and later mouse immune sera were similar to those determined in simultaneously performed 50% plaque reduction tests. The results indicate that the enzyme immunoassay (duration, 9 h) is reliable and compares favorably with the conventional plaque reduction test (duration, 25 h) in rapidity, ease of performance, and objectivity.