Preparation of diagnostic monoclonal antibodies against two potyviruses.

Diagnostic monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies against bean yellow mosaic virus (BYMV) and plum pox virus (PPV) were prepared, characterized and used for detection of these viruses in infected plants by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunoblot analysis and tissue print immunoblot assay (TPIBA).

Characterization of plum pox virus isolates from Slovakia.

Plum pox virus (PPV) isolates from stone-fruit trees (plums, myrobalans, apricots and peaches) from orchards and gardens were characterized. To characterize their biological properties, several PPV isolates were transmitted by chip budding to GF 305 seedlings and mechanically to selected herbaceous test plants. The isolates differed in severity of infection, host range and symptomatology.

Susceptibility of peach GF 305 seedlings and selected herbaceous plants to plum pox virus isolates from western Slovakia.

The susceptibility of peach GF 305 seedlings and herbaceous plants to five plum pox virus (PPV) isolates from orchards of western Slovakia was investigated. PPV was isolated from diseased plum, apricot and peach trees, and transmitted by chip-budding to peach GF 305. The herbaceous plants were infected by mechanical inoculation.

Characterization of monoclonal antibodies against broad bean stain and red clover mottle viruses.

Seven monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) against red clover mottle comovirus (RCMV) and/or broad bean stain comovirus (BBSV) were characterized and used for epitope comparison of both viruses. All tested MoAbs, exclusively of IgG class, were directed to detergent-stable epitopes (metatopes and cryptotopes). Two of them were species-specific, while five others cross-reacted with both viruses to different extent.

Preparation and specificity of antibodies against coat proteins of broad bean stain virus.

Mouse polyclonal antibodies were prepared against broad bean stain virus (BBSV, Comovirus group) and its coat protein subunits, large (L) and small (S) protein. These subunits were less immunogenic than native virus. Antibodies against L protein (Anti-L) and native virus (Anti-BBSV) did not react in immunoblots with S protein, but Anti-BBSV antibody reacted with S protein in plate-trapped antigen ELISA.