Development and properties of neutralizing monoclonal antibodies for fusion protein of respiratory syncytial virus.

Introduction. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common cause of lower respiratory tract infections in infants and the elderly. The absence of a wide range of therapeutic drugs and vaccines indicates to the high relevance of the development of new effective drugs for the prevention and treatment of RSV infections. Purpose: to obtain highly active and specific monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) capable of detecting RSV in infected cells and neutralizing the infectious activity of the virus in vitro. Material and methods. RSV reference strains of group A 2 subgroups (A2 and Long) were propagated in HEp-2 and MA-104 cell lines, respectively. Mice were immunized with purified RSV A2 virus. MAbs were obtained using hybridoma technology. Results. A panel of 6 MAbs reacting with RSV strains А2 and Long has been obtained. Four MAbs were IgG (IgG2a or IgG2b subtype), two MAbs were IgM. All MAbs reacted with RSV F-protein in immunochemical tests. The MAbs actively reacted with RSV in ELISA, in immufluorescence and peroxidase staining of infected cells, and in immunodot test. Five out of 6 MAbs neutralized of RSV in cell culture. Different properties of MAbs suggest that they target different antigenic sites of F-protein. Discussion. Comparative analysis suggests that the obtained MAbs can be used for the development of diagnostic preparations, for RSV detection in clinical materials and confirmation of infection etiology by rapid culture method. Conclusion. High activity and specificity of MAbs indicate that they can serve as a basis for development vaccines and preventive medicines.