Determination of type 1 poliovirus subtype classes with neutralizing monoclonal antibodies

Hybridomas secreting neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (MA) against type 1 poliovirus were developed by fusion of mouse myeloma cells with splenocytes of immunized mice. Strain-specific MA selected for their capacity to neutralize wild (Mahoney) or attenuated (Sabin, LSc 2ab) poliovirus strains were used for identification of field isolates. A simple and reliable neutralization-index-assay was developed and used to test for intratypic serodifferentiation of poliovirus with the selected MA. Three subtype classes of type 1 poliovirus have so far been identified by testing 4 reference strains and 96 field isolates: Mahoney-like, LSc-like, and strains not recognized by either anti-Mahoney or anti-LSc MA. Neutralizing MA proved an excellent tool for unequivocal antigenic characterization of different poliovirus strains.