Versatile Reagent For Detecting Murine Leukemia Viruses

Monoclonal antibodies directed at the proteins of murine leukemia viruses (MuLVs) have some value as immunological reagents, but differ greatly in their applicability. The kit described in this invention uses a monoclonal antibody designated 83A25, which identifies almost all ecotropic, xenotropic, polytropic, and amphotropic MuLVs. It can be used in a wide variety of procedures, including focal immunofluorescence assays on live or fixed monolayers, immunoblotting, immunoprecipitation, immunohistochemical, and flow cytometric procedures. This kit overcomes some of the problems associated with prior methods, which may not efficiently precipitate proteins or react in immunoblots, are not capable of detecting MuLVs belonging to all classes with a single reagent, and may not efficiently neutralize all MuLVs.