Specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of antibodies to the human spumavirus.

Recombinant plasmid clones were constructed harbouring the central domains of the outer membrane protein and the transmembrane protein of the env gene of human spumaretrovirus (HSRV). The corresponding fusion proteins were expressed in E. coli, purified and used subsequently to produce antibodies against the HSRV env proteins in rabbits. The authenticity of the bacterially produced domain of the HSRV env proteins was shown by radioimmunoprecipitation of the viral env glycoprotein from HSRV-infected human cells with rabbit antibodies raised against the recombinant antigens. The recombinant viral antigens were used to establish a sensitive and spumavirus-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). This anti HSRV antibody ELISA makes it possible to screen human sera for the presence of spumavirus infections.