Characterization of a panel of anti-phosphoprotein monoclonal antibodies generated against the raccoon strain of rabies virus

The generation of a new panel of 32 monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) reactive with the P protein of the raccoon strain of rabies virus is described. Through a series of analyses employing competitive ELISA and immunoblotting, these MAbs were classified into eight groups, each defining an antigenic site, thereby increasing the number of sites now recognized along the length of the P protein. Studies on MAb reactivity with a collection of diverse lyssaviruses identified sites that were highly conserved, moderately conserved and highly variable. Several groups of MAbs were highly specific for the raccoon rabies virus (RRV) strain and may be useful for inclusion into panels used for antigenic typing of rabies viruses. The utility of these MAbs to detect truncated versions of the P product may facilitate more fundamental studies on the function of this rabies virus protein.