A capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for virus infectivity titrations as exemplified in an adenovirus system

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), employing a capturing antihexon monoclonal antibody specifically recognizing free hexons, was developed for quantitative infectivity titration of adenovirus in a microscale titration assay. The method is based on the quantitative assessment of the total excess production of the major structural protein late in infection in samples consisting of 10(5) virus-infected HeLa cells maintained as stationary suspension cultures. Results are obtained with a coefficient of variation of 10% within 50 hours after virus infection. The method was designed for monitoring substances interfering with viral replication, e.g., neutralizing antibodies or antiviral drugs. Since it measured the total antigen content associated with cells as well as antigens possibly released into the growth medium the general approach should be applicable to any viral system where a structural protein is synthesized in excess.