Target cells for antibodies detection in rabies vaccine control

Rabies causes one of the most lethal zoonotic diseases, with more than 55,000 deaths reported annually. Prevention is based on pre-exposure vaccination of individuals at high risk of contracting rabies, and mass vaccination of dog, which are the main vector for transmission to humans. Post-exposure prophylaxis includes vaccination and rabies immunoglobulins treatment. The measurement of neutralizing antibodies in sera of vaccinated individuals is a primary concern to determine the efficacy of immunization schedules or the potency of new vaccines. Antibodies against rabies glycoprotein are considered an ideal indicator. In this work we showed the development of a VERO clone that is able to detect by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry, the presence of antibodies against the rabies glycoprotein, specifically in its native conformation anchored in the plasma membrane. These cells could trigger the development of a new rapid method for the detection of rabies virus neutralizing antibodies in vaccinated individuals.