The use of biotin-conjugated antisera in immunoassays for plant viruses

Biotin-conjugated antisera to two strains of sugarcane mosaic virus and erysimum latent virus were used to detect the viruses in extracts of infected plants. Two methods, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and electroblot immunoassays, were used. The antisera were found to be sufficiently sensitive for detection of the viruses. Virus strain specificities observed for the antisera agreed with those found using immunoelectron microscopy and electroblot immunoassay. The sensitivity of biotin conjugated antiserum was compared with that of peroxidase conjugated antiserum. It was found that biotin conjugation gave increased sensitivity. The Biotin-avidin system offers several advantages over other current methods of antibody labelling, notably in speed of development and versatility.