Reactivity of mouse ascitic fluids containing monoclonal antibodies directed against adenovirus hexon

Thirty-two mouse hybridoma ascites were produced, containing hexon specific monoclonal antibodies, using crystallized hexons of human adenovirus type 1 as immunizing and selecting antigen. The reactivity of the ascitic fluids was tested with hexon preparations of 11 different human adenovirus species (serological types) belonging to 4 different subgenera by ELISA and passive haemagglutination (HA) methods. By these methods the 32 hybridoma antibodies showed 4 and 12 distinct reactivity patterns (type of cross-reactions) respectively. In the positive cases significant differences could be detected in the titres of the hybridoma antibodies in both ELISA and HA. It can be assumed that adenovirus type 1 hexon-related epitopes are present on a number of heterologous hexons in characteristic (interspecies) combinations for the given heterologous hexon and that a gradient of relationship may exist among the antigenic structures of hexons of the different adenovirus species.