Serotype specificity and utility of antibodies 5D8/1 and Cox mAB 31A2 for enterovirus diagnostics

Abstract

AbstractA commercially available antibody, Cox mAB 31A2, raised against the VP1 protein of coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) has been reported as suitable for the detection of CVB3 in diagnostic samples (Ettischer-Schmid 2016). The authors compared this antibody with the widely used, multi-specific, monoclonal anti-VP1 antibody marketed by Dako (clone 5D8/1) and concluded that clone 5D8/1 should not be used to identify enterovirus infections in diagnostic samples. Rather they suggested that Cox mAB 31A2 is preferable for this purpose. Here we address these issues and show that Cox mAB 31A2 can be used successfully to diagnose CVB3 infection in various cell and tissue samples but we demonstrate that it fails to detect many clinically relevant enterovirus types, thereby limiting its use as a general diagnostic reagent for clinical specimens. Rather, we propose that, when used under carefully controlled conditions, clone 5D8/1 should remain the reagent of choice for such purposes.