Mouse hybrid cell lines produce antibodies to herpes simplex virus type 1

A solid-phase radioimmunoassay procedure has been devised for the assay of antibodies produced in the mouse to herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). It is based on the adsorption of virus to flexible micro-well plates and uses radio-iodine-labelled rabbit antibody against mouse immunoglobulin to assess antibody binding. Using this assay for screening, cell hybrids have been obtained which yield monoclonal antibody to HSV-1. The hybrids are between spleen cells from hyperimmune mice and an immunoglobulin-non-secreting, azaquanine resistant myeloma cell line (NS-1). From 480 hybrid cell lines initially examined, five stable cell lines were obtained which released HSV-1-specific antibody in vitro and in vivo. Mice carrying transplants of these cell lines yield binding titres in serum of up to 1/25000. Both IgG and IgM antibodies were obtained in this way.