Diversity in the antigenic structure of different hexon types among the members of adenovirus subgenus D

Antigenic relationships of human adenovirus (Ad h) hexon types: 8, 9, 10, 13, 19, 26, 27 and intermediate type 9/13 (I13), belonging to subgenus D were studied with 61 hybridoma ascitic fluids containing monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). The MAbs were produced in three different panels directed against Ad h1, Ad h35, and bovine Ad type 2. The reactivity pattern (RP) and the degree of cross-reactivity (CR) of the MAbs were determined in indirect ELISA. By the 61 MAbs 8 different RPs could be distinguished. The distinct RPs of hexon types of 8, 9, 10, I13 and 19 were identical or nearly identical and the occurrence of the different eight RPs were based mainly on the combinations of positive or negative reactions of different MAbs with the hexon prototypes 13, 26 and 27. According to the different RPs and to the number of reacting and non-reacting MAbs with the different hexon types as well as on the base of the degree of CR three groups of hexon types with diverse antigenic structure could be distinguished. These data revealed the existence of remarkable diversity in the antigenic structure between type 27 and types 8, 9, 10, I13 and 19, as well as an intermediate position of prototypes 13 and 26.