Monoclonal antibodies against a truncated viral envelope protein (VP28) can detect white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) infections in shrimp

Abstract

A portion of the VP28 gene (VP28F118) of white spot syndrome virus was cloned into an expression vector and transformed into E. coli. The objective was to produce a truncated VP28 envelope protein lacking the N-terminal transmembrane region. After induction, the recombinant VP28F118 protein (rVP28F118) was produced, purified by SDS-PAGE and used to immunize Swiss mice for monoclonal antibody production. Seven hybridoma clones were obtained. The monoclonal antibodies bound well to VP28 protein and could be used to detect WSSV by immunohistochemistry and haemolymph dot blot. Both methods detected WSSV in experimentally infected Penaeus monodon at 12 hr. These monoclonal antibodies can be used to develop simple, low cost immuno-based test kits for WSSV detection at high specificity and sensitivity.