Abstract
The microneutralization (MN) assay is a modification of the serum virus neutralization assay and is a serological test to detect the presence of functional systemic antibodies that prevent infectivity of virus. When infectious virus is mixed with serum antibody, the virus infectivity can be “neutralized” if the antibodies bind to blocking epitopes on the virus. The neutralization effect can be demonstrated by inoculation of susceptible cells or organisms with the antibody–virus mixture, such as cells in culture, embryonated eggs, or susceptible hosts. The results of the MN assay described here are measured based on cell culture in a microtiter plate format and a color change detected by an automated plate reader. The test is performed with a constant amount of virus and serial dilutions of serum samples to an end point where virus neutralization is no longer detected. The neutralizing antibody titer is thus the reciprocal number of the last dilution of serum with neutralizing activity. The MN assay can be used to detect antibody from pigs with natural exposure or vaccination and can potentially be used to predict cross-protection between strains of influenza A virus.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Couch RB (2003) An overview of serum antibody responses to influenza virus antigens. Dev Biol (Basel) 115:25–30
Wharton SA (1987) The role of influenza virus haemagglutinin in membrane fusion. Microbiol Sci 4:119–124
Leuwerke B, Kitikoon P, Evans R et al (2008) Comparison of three serological assays to determine the cross-reactivity of antibodies from eight genetically diverse U.S. swine influenza viruses. J Vet Diagn Invest 20:426–432
Rowe T, Abernathy RA, Hu-Primmer J et al (1999) Detection of antibody to avian influenza A (H5N1) virus in human serum by using a combination of serologic assays. J Clin Microbiol 37:937–943
Veguilla V, Hancock K, Schiffer J et al (2011) Sensitivity and specificity of serologic assays for detection of human infection with 2009 pandemic H1N1 virus in U.S. populations. J Clin Microbiol 49:2210–2215
WHO (World Health Organization) (2010) Serological diagnosis of influenza by microneutralization assay. http://www.who.int/influenza/gisrs_laboratory/2010_12_06_serological_diagnosis_of_influenza_by_microneutralization_assay.pdf. Accessed 2 Aug 2013
Reed LJ, Muench H (1938) A simple method of estimating fifty percent endpoints. Am J Hyg 27:493–497
Acknowledgments
Thank you to Drs. Surender Khurana and Crystal Loving for technical advice. We thank Gwen Nordholm, Michelle Harland, and Dr. Alessandra Dias for laboratory assistance. Mention of trade names or commercial products in this chapter is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the US Department of Agriculture.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this protocol
Cite this protocol
Kitikoon, P., Vincent, A.L. (2014). Microneutralization Assay for Swine Influenza Virus in Swine Serum. In: Spackman, E. (eds) Animal Influenza Virus. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1161. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0758-8_27
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0758-8_27
Published:
Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-0757-1
Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-0758-8
eBook Packages: Springer Protocols