Studies on the serological cross-reaction between Marek's disease virus and herpesvirus of turkeys using monoclonal antibodies to major virus-specific polypeptides. Brief report.

A major virus-specific polypeptide antigenically cross-reactive between Marek's disease virus (MDV) and herpesvirus of turkeys (HVT) was characterized by two monoclonal antibodies against MDV. The antigenic determinant recognized by one monoclonal antibody was present only in the MDV polypeptide but not in the HVT polypeptide, whereas the antigenic determinant recognized by the other antibody was present in both MDV and HVT polypeptides. Peptide mapping showed the difference in the amino acid sequence of the two polypeptides.