Polyclonal Antibodies to the Coat Protein of Carnation etched ring virus Expressed in Bacterial System: Production and Use in Immunodiagnosis

Carnation etched ring virus (CERV), is the most widespread virus in carnation cultivars after Carnation mottle virus. It’s incidences has been reported worldwide. It has double stranded DNA genome with the length of 8 kbp. Primers were designed for CERV coat protein gene (1482 bp) amplification and directional and inframe cloning in expression vector, pET- 28a(+) (Novagen, USA), using Escherichia coli strain BL 21 strain competent cells. Expression conditions for maximum recovery of soluble recombinant protein was standardized. The in vitro expressed protein was purified and was used as an antigen for raising antisera. Both intramuscular and sub-cutaneous routes were used separately for antisera production and the antisera was purified. Some of the antisera was used for enzyme conjugate preparation. This antiserum and conjugate were then used for formulation of an ELISA-based diagnostic kit for CERV detection. Its properties were compared with the commercially available kit. In all cases, with both glasshouse and field material, the antibodies had good detectability and specificity. These antibodies combine specificity to the target protein and versatility with regard to all the more important serological techniques