Application of monoclonal antibodies to quality control of foot-and-mouth disease vaccines.

Panels of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) produced against foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) virus types O, A and C were selected for cell culture neutralization titre (NT), mouse protection index (MPI), trypsin sensitivity (TS) and avidity to different epitopes. The selected sets were used to assay the antigen concentration and the fit between FMDV vaccine and challenge strains. It was observed that FMD vaccines protect more than 75% of vaccinated cattle when manufactured with antigens characterized by (1) a high degree of fit with the potency control virus, and (2) mean ELISA 50% titres (T50) > 28 for O, > 18 for A and > 75 for C types, respectively, using the corresponding mAb set.