Preparation and Antigenic Site Identification of Monoclonal Antibodies against PB1 Protein of H9N2 Subtype AIV

Abstract

Recently, low pathogenic avian influenza virus (LPAIV), including H9N2 subtype, has been common clinical epidemic strains, and is widely distributed globally. The PB1 protein is a key component of the viral RNA polymerase complex (vRNP), and is vital to viral transcription and translation. In this study, to investigate the antigenic determinants in the PB1 protein, the truncated PB1 sequence (1bp-735bp) from H9N2 subtype AIV was amplified with PCR, and expressed in plasmid pET-28a (+). After purification, the recombinant PB1 protein was used to immunize BALB/c mice. Following immunization, hybridoma cells producing PB1-specific monoclonal antibodies were generated through the fusion of splenic lymphocytes with SP2/0 cells. Then, four stable hybridoma cell lines (5F12, 5B3, 2H9, and 3E6) were screened using indirect ELISA and Western blotting. Furthermore, two antigenic sites, 67NPIDGPLPED76 and 97ESHPGIFENS106, were identified through the construction of truncated overlapping fragments of the PB1 protein. These sites were conserved among 28 AIV strains, and were located on the PB1 protein surface. The findings offer a theoretical reference for the development and improvement of H9N2 vaccines and offer biological materials for virus detection during AIV infection mechanisms.