A whole cell immunization-derived monoclonal antibody that protects cells from coxsackievirus A9 infection binds to both cell surface and virions.

Coxsackievirus A9 (CAV-9) infects human rhabdomyosarcoma (RD) cells using an unidentified RGD-independent receptor. Monoclonal antibodies were prepared by immunizing mice with intact RD cells and by selecting cells from the cytopathic effect of CAV-9 for protection. Here we describe a monoclonal antibody that binds to host cell plasma membrane and protects cells from virus infection. In addition, binding of the virus to cell monolayers was more efficient in the presence of the antibody, suggesting that the antibody is also capable of recognizing virus particles. Immunoprecipitation and electron microscopy studies with highly purified virus preparations verified binding of the monoclonal antibody to the virus particles. The antibody also recognized coxsackievirus A21 and all three serotypes of poliovirus, but without affecting their infectivity. The amino acid sequence of CAV-9 recognized by the monoclonal antibody was identified by peptide mapping and by producing escape mutants in the presence of the antibody.