Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata (1989) 51, 21-28

M.R. McGuire and J.E. Henry (1989)
Production and partial characterization of monoclonal antibodies for detection of entomopoxvirus from Melanoplus sanguinipes
Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 51 (1), 21-28
Abstract: Entomopoxviruses (EPV) are currently being considered as candidate grasshopper (Orthoptera: Acrididae) microbial control agents. Classical techniques for diagnosing infections in grasshoppers are laborious, time consuming, and sometimes inaccurate. Specific murine monoclonal antibodies were developed against an EPV from Melanoplus sanguinipes (Fab) for use in a nitrocellulose-based enzyme-linked immunoassay (dot-blot). An IgG2b monoclonal antibody was used to diagnose infections in grasshoppers 13 days following injection with virions. Of 25 grasshoppers that had patent infections microscopically, 22 produced positive results on the dot-blot. In a second test, 39 patently infected grasshoppers all produced positive results. Seven additional grasshoppers in the first test and 2 in the second test gave positive reactions in the dot-blot method but virus was not detected upon microscopic examination. The monolconal antibody did not cross-react with other commonly occurring grasshopper pathogens. The dot-blot method detected as few as 2.5 x. 10⁶ purified EPV virions. The improvement over existing detection techniques should facilitate evaluation of EPV for field use.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Michael R. McGuire

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
identification/taxonomy

---

Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Melanoplus sanguinipes
Melanoplus sanguinipes entomopoxvirus (entomopathogen)