Typing of herpes simplex virus by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with monoclonal antibodies

Abstract

A method that uses monoclonal antibodies for typing herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2 strains was developed. Clinical isolates from GMK [embryonic African green monkey kidney] cells were seeded directly into a monolayer of GMK cells. After overnight, incubation monoclonal antibodies were added to the infected monolayer; antibody binding was indicated by a peroxidase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Using prototype strains and previously typed patient strains, the specificity of the technique was verified. This method is now used routinely for typing herpes simplex strains. This technique has been used for specific staining of type 1 plaques in a mixture of type 1 and type 2 plaques; it is possible to find a single type 1 plaque among several hundred type 2 plaques on a single petri dish. Infections virus can be recovered from stained, unfixed type 1 plaques.