Monoclonal antibodies to the HN glycoprotein of Newcastle disease virus. Biological characterization and use for strain comparisons.

We have isolated nine hybridomas secreting monoclonal antibodies directed against the HN glycoprotein of D26 strain of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and classified them into three groups by their biological reactivities. The group I antibodies from six clones had high hemagglutination inhibition (HI) and neutralization titers, and exhibited neuraminidase inhibition (NI) activity with substrates, both bovine fetuin and N-acetyl neuraminlactose, although the levels of maximum inhibition were greater with the former substrate. The group II antibodies from two clones also had high HI activity but showed a strongly substrate-dependent NI, with efficient inhibition against fetuin and a total lack of inhibition against neuraminlactose. These antibodies had neutralization capacity but the titers were much lower than those of group I antibodies. One clone (group III) secreted antibody which exhibited HI and NI with either substrate but no detectable neutralization activity. Frequency of isolation of antigenic variants and competitive binding assays have shown that group I and group II antibodies may recognize distinct regions not overlapping each other whereas antibodies placed within each of the two groups are to the respective same overlapping regions. The site of group III seemed to be close to or overlap the group I determinant but distinct from group II region. Using the isolated monoclonal antibodies we compared seven heterologous strains by HI and neutralization tests as well as by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results indicated that the regions recognized by group I antibodies would be conserved among the strains whereas those by the other two antibody groups might undergo considerable changes.