[Preparation and application of polyclonal antibody against non-structural protein 1 (NS1) of duck Tembusu virus]

Objective To express prokaryotically the non-structural protein 1 (NS1) of duck Tembusu virus (DTMUV) and prepare NS1-specific polyclonal antibodies. Methods The NS1 gene of DTMUV strain AH-F10 was amplified by PCR, followed by subcloning and expression in the prokaryotic vector pET-32a. The recombinant NS1 protein was successfully expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3), and purified with hydroxymethyl urea and renatured by gradient centrifugation. The BALB/c mice were immunized with the purified recombinant NS1 protein to prepare polyclonal antibodies against the NS1 protein. Furthermore, the titer of the polyclonal antibodies was determined by agar diffusion test (AGP), and the specificity of the polyclonal antibodies was verified by Western blotting and indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA). Results Polyclonal antibodies against NS1 protein in serum was successfully obtained with an AGP titer of 1:8. Western blotting and IFA demonstrated that the serum with polyclonal antibodies had a high-level specificity and reactivity to the NS1 protein of DTMUV. Conclusion Polyclonal antibodies against DTMUV NS1 protein were successfully prepared and validated in this study.