Production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies against different epitopes of Ebola virus antigens

Ebola virus (EBOV) causes hemorrhagic fever in humans and nonhuman primates with up to 90% mortality rate. In this study, Ebola virus like particles (EVLPs) and the aglycosyl subfragment of glycoprotein (GP1 subfragment D) were used to generate monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against different epitopes of the viral antigens. Such MAbs could be useful in diagnostics and potential therapeutics of viral infection and its hemorrhagic symptoms. Hybridoma cell fusion technology was used for production of MAbs. The MAbs were characterized using ELISA and Western blot analysis. Furthermore, five recombinant sub-domains of GP1 subfragment D were produced, which were used as antigen in Western blot analysis for epitope mapping. Seventeen MAbs of different epitope specificities against EBOV antigens [virion protein (VP40), secreted glycoprotein (sGP), and GP1 subfragment D] were developed. Based on epitope mapping studies, the anti-GP MAbs were categorized into six groups. The binding of the three anti-sGP MAbs with different epitope specificities were mostly between aa 157 and 221. The two anti-VP40 MAbs with the same or overlapping epitopes are potentially good candidates for developing antigen detection assays for early diagnosis of EBOV infection. The anti-GP MAbs with different epitope specificities as an oligoclonal cocktail could be tested for therapy.