Antibody analysis indicates VP2 for diagnosis of PPV

Scientists have used an antihistamine antibody and anti-porcine-parvovirus (PPV) serum to detect the PPV VP2 protein expressed in an insect-baculovirus cell system.

The antibody and serum allowed VP2 of molecular mass of 64 kilodaltons to be detected and analysed using affinity column chromatography.

As a result, the team were able to show spherical particles of the VP2 protein of 20-22 nm in size.

"This study provides a foundation for the application of VP2 protein in the clinical diagnosis of PPV or in the vaccination against PPV in the future," they write.

In particular, the VP2 expressed was found to be similar in antigenic terms to polyclonal antibodies obtained from a farm which had suffered an outbreak of PPV.

The study is published in Virology Journal, a periodical addressing all aspects of virology including how fungi, bacteria, insects, plants, animals and humans are affected by invasion and how antiviral agents may be developed.