Development and characterization of monoclonal antibodies to subgroup A avian leukosis virus

Avian leukosis virus subgroup A (ALV-A) is a retrovirus which infects egg-type chickens and is the main pathogen of lymphoid leukosis (LL) and myeloid leukosis (ML). In order to greatly enhance the diagnosis and treatment of clinical avian leukemia, two monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to ALV-A were developed by fusion between SP2/0 and spleen cells from mice immunized with expressed ALV-A env-gp85 protein. Using immunofluorescence assay (IFA), two MAbs reacted with ALV-A, but not with subgroups B and J of ALV. Western blot tests showed that molecular weight of ALV-A envelope glycoprotein recognized by MAbs was about 53 kD. Isotyping test revealed that two MAbs (A5C1 and A4C8) were IgG1 isotypes. These MAbs can be used for diagnosis and epidemiology of ALV-A.