Bovine Coronavirus Spike (BCoV)

Bovine coronavirus (BCoV) belongs to the genus Betacoronavirus, a genus in the family Coronaviridae, comprising large, enveloped, positive-strand RNA viruses that have become increasingly important human and animal disease pathogens (Vijgen et al., 2006). BCoV consists of one serotype with some antigenic variation between different strains. The virus genome encodes five major structural proteins: the nucleocapsid (N), transmembrane (M), spike (S), small membrane (E), and hemagglutinin/esterase (HE) (Kumar et al., 2004). Both the S and HE glycoproteins hemagglutinate red blood cells by binding to N-acetyl-9-O-acetylneuraminic acid as a receptor determinant and produce virus-neutralizing antibodies. In addition, they are involved in determining the virus tissue and host tropism. The HE protein also acts as a receptor-destroying enzyme (RDE), serving as an esterase to reverse hemagglutination (HA) (Lai & Holmes, 2001).

BCoV is a pneumoenteric virus that infects the upper and lower respiratory tract and intestine. Virus is shed in feces and nasal secretions and infects the lung. It is the cause of 3 distinct clinical syndromes in cattle: calf diarrhea (CD), winter dysentery (WD) with hemorrhagic diarrhea in adults, and respiratory infections in cattle of various ages including the bovine respiratory disease complex (BRDC) or shipping fever of feedlot cattle. Infection normally occurs in calves between the ages of one week and three months which exhibit diarrhea, dehydration, depression, reduced weight gain and anorexia. Respiratory infection in the calf produces nasal discharge and its health can worsen with secondary bacterial infection. Adult infection is normally subclinical, except for winter dysentery, which affects housed cattle. Clinical signs include profuse diarrhea and a significant drop in milk yield. Acutely infected animals develop antibodies that persist for a long period, possibly for several years. However, the protective immunity is shorter and incomplete (el-Ghorr et al., 1989; Clark, 1993). BCoV is a member of the same species group as HCoV-OC43, a human coronavirus, whose zoonotic source has been speculated to include domestic livestock.

Suitable for use in ELISA, Western Blot and Immunofluorescence. Other applications not tested.

Optimal dilutions to be determined by the researcher.

May be stored at 4°C for short-term only. Aliquot to avoid repeated freezing and thawing. Store at -20°C. Aliquots are stable for 12 months after receipt. For maximum recovery of product, centrifuge the original vial after thawing and prior to removing the cap.

Mab

IgG1

5A4

mouse

bovine

~1mg/ml

Supplied as a liquid in PBS, pH 7.2, 0.01% sodium azide.

Purified by Protein A affinity chromatography.

Purified bovine coronavirus.

Recognizes the Spike (S) protein of bovine coronavirus (BCoV),

This product as supplied is intended for research use only, not for use in human, therapeutic or diagnostic applications without the expressed written authorization of United States Biological.