Antigenic and phylogenetic studies on a variant Newcastle disease virus using anti-fusion protein monoclonal antibodies and partial sequencing of the fusion protein gene

A virulent Newcastle disease virus (NDV) isolate, 34/90, reported to show considerable antigenic diversity from more classical strains of NDV, including vaccine strains, was evaluated phylogenetically and for the presence of neutralizing epitopes on the fusion protein. Comparison of a 309 nucleotide sequence of the fusion protein gene of 34/90 with other viruses confirmed the diversity of this virus, placing it in a discrete fifth genetic lineage with an avirulent virus isolated from waterfowl and genetically quite distant from other strains and isolates. The virus-neutralizing mAbs used in the present study were directed against at least seven distinct epitopes on the fusion protein. Of these seven, five are shared by 34/90 and the live vaccine virus Hitchner B1 and these plus an additional epitope are shared by 34/90 and strain Ulster 2C, which is used in inactivated vaccines. Two potential distinct epitopes were also shared by these three viruses. The results suggest that despite the detected antigenic and genetic variation of 34/90, it is unlikely that mutants which fail to be neutralized by antibodies induced by conventional vaccines would arise readily.