Reassessing the suitability of a monoclonal antibody for the generic serological detection of potyviruses

Among the RNA viruses, the genus Potyvirus represents the largest group, which causes considerable damage to numerous cultivated plants. Some individual plant species can be infected by a variety of different potyviruses, especially plants of the family Solanaceae. Among these are important cultivated plants such as tomato, potato or pepper, which are host plants for the same group of potyviruses, likely due to their common geographical origin in South America. Even though numerous new detection methods for these viruses have been developed in recent decades, the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is still a fixed component for reliable and cost-effective detection due to its robustness and suitability for large scale testing. Richter et al. (1995), described the monoclonal antibody (3H8) that could detect 50 different species of the genus Potyvirus, and which is still used in routine detection. Since the publication more than 20 years ago many additional potyviruses have become available. We have reassessed this antibody with 125 isolates available in the DSMZ plant virus collection of which 85 reacted positively. These 85 isolates, representing 54 different species, comprised 23 species that were not included in the original assessment. For the remaining 31 species, which were already included in the test at that time, the detectability could be confirmed. Including all species tested in both studies, the suitability for detection is now demonstrated for a total of 73, among which are many potyviruses known to infect tomato. This proves the excellent suitability of this antibody in particular to test tomatoes for potyviruses and saves time and money when this combined test is used instead of numerous individual tests.