Monoclonal antibodies to the major capsid protein of human papillomavirus type 1

Two stable monoclonal hybridoma cell lines secreting type-specific antibodies against the human papillomavirus type 1 (HPV-1) were isolated. The monoclonal antibodies detected HPV-1 antigens in frozen sections of HPV-1-induced warts, using immunofluorescence or immunoperoxidase techniques, and they reacted with HPV-1 particles in an immunodiffusion test. The two monoclonal antibodies recognized the major structural viral polypeptide, with a molecular weight of 54 000, and a minor polypeptide, with molecular weight of 76 000, in both the dissociated viral particles and in the wart extracts.