Epitope analysis of infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV) isolated from lake trout, <em>SalveIinus namaycush</em> (Walbaum), by monoclonal antibodies.

A panel of 15 monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were raised against infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV) associated with lake trout, Salvelinus namaycush (Walbaum), (LT-IPNV) in Cornwall Lake, Alberta, Canada, for LT-IPNV epitope analysis and comparison with other Canadian IPNV isolates. All the MAbs reacted with IPNV VP2 polypeptide in Western blot and 10 MAbs were neutralizing. Both conformation and sequence dependent epitopes were found to be present on the IPNV VP₂ protein. The antibodies recognized different epitopes on VP₂ protein in reciprocal blocking ELISA. Twelve MAbs recognized common epitopes present LT-IPNV and IPNV from Arctic char. Salvelinus alpinus (L.), (AC-IPNV) in binding and neutralization assays. Three MAbs reacted only with LT-IPNV, indicating that it has distinct epitopes, and thus, clearly differentiating it from AC-IPNV isolated from the adjacent Northwest Territories. Only Two MAbs bound to Ja and BC1-IPNV isolates and none of the MAbs neutralized these two IPNV isolates. LT-IPNV was found to be a distinct isolate, more closely related to AC-IPNV and Canada-2 than to Ja-IPNV from Alberta or other isolates in Canada. Additionally, the panel of MAbs could differentiate all the proposed Canadian IPNV serotypes, namely C1, C2, C3 and Ja. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]