Cross-reactive potential of monoclonal antibodies raised against proteolysed tobacco etch virus

Monoclonal antibodies (mAb) capable of reacting with different potyviruses were obtained by immunizing mice with proteolysed tobacco etch virus. The mAb were not equally effective in all ELISA formats and some were specific for different conformational states of the viral coat protein. The mAb also detected antigenic differences between purified virus particles and viral antigen in infected plant sap. In an ELISA format using antigen-coated plates, 5 different potyviruses (out of 7 viruses tested) could be detected in plant sap by one mAb. Different combinations of mAb and polyclonal antiserum could also be used for detecting several potyviruses by ELISA.