Immunochemical characterization of juvenile hormone esterase from different species of Lepidoptera

Cross-immunoreactivity of juvenile hormone esterase (JHE) from different species was tested using anti-JHE (Trichoplusia ni) (Noctuidae) polyclonal antibody. Partial cross-reactivity was observed between JHE from Hyphantria cunea, Isia isabella (Arctuidae) and Spodoptera exigua (Noctuidae) in immunoblot analysis. Soluble antigen-antibody complex formation was observed between anti-JHE (T. ni) and antigen(s) from Heliothis virescens (Noctuidae) during immunotitration of antigen(s). Using an ELISA method the highest cross-reactivity was observed for both species from Arctuidae and lower cross-reactivity for antigen(s) from H. virescens.