Specific labelling of human rotaviruses and adenoviruses with gold-IgG complexes

Human rotaviruses and adenoviruses were specifically labelled by an indirect immuno gold staining technique for electron microscopy. Rabbit antisera against human rota- and adenoviruses were used as the primary antibody and goat anti-rabbit IgG-gold complexes as secondary antibody. Optimal conditions for the procedure were established by testing serial dilutions of the antisera. Precoating of electron microscopy grids with bovine rotavirus antibody decreased nonspecific background staining and at the same time increased slightly the number of virus particles adsorbed to the grid. Noncultivable enteric adenoviruses showed no antigenic relationship to adenovirus type 2 and 6 from cell culture material when tested by this gold labelled antibody decoration technique. However, a slight cross-reaction was observed between adenovirus type 2 and type 6.