A dual-purpose monoclonal antibody for in vitro neutralization and diagnostic detection of the lumpy skin disease virus

The global cattle industry faces a persistent threat from lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV), resulting in significant economic losses and creating an urgent need for effective therapeutic and preventive strategies. This study reports the development of a novel monoclonal antibody (mAb), designated mAb 9E3, that targets a key epitope within the LSDV ORF117 protein. Using mAb 9E3, we established a sensitive and specific blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (bELISA) for detecting LSDV antibodies, which demonstrated a critical value of 5.1% and exhibited high specificity, sensitivity, and reproducibility. Furthermore, mAb 9E3 was confirmed to effectively detect LSDV strains through indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and western blotting, and importantly, it was shown to inhibit viral infections in vitro and prevent intercellular virus transmission. Epitope mapping revealed a highly conserved amino acid sequence (110CNSLKNII117) in Capripoxvirus , recognized by mAb 9E3, thereby highlighting its potential as a novel neutralizing epitope for diagnostic and therapeutic applications. This study not only provides a cost-effective and rapid serological assay for LSDV, but also enhances our understanding of the role of LSDV ORF117 in viral infection and pathogenesis, paving the way for the development of targeted vaccines and therapeutics.