Production of hybrid cell lines secreting antibodies to herpes simplex virus type 2.

Following different immunization schedules we have produced 102 myeloma--spleen cell hybrid lines (30.8% of the total) secreting antibodies to HSV-2 infected cells. The highest yield of hybrids was derived from fusion of myeloma cells with spleen cells from mice sensitized by footpad injection of formalin-inactivated virus and boosted intravenously with the same antigen. To date, twelve of the antibody-producing hybrids have been cloned by limiting dilutions to generate over 100 monoclonal lines reacting specifically with HSV-infected but not with mock-infected cells. Several hybrid lines have also been injected into mice to generate tumors and high titers of anti-HSV-specific antibodies have been detected in ascitic fluids. All of the hybrids so far tested have retained the capacity to secrete anti-HSV antibodies after long-term in culture or repeated passages through mice. Antibodies reacting with cytoplasmic or nuclear antigens in infected cells as well as type-specific and type common antibodies have been detected.