Zagorodnya S. Design of specific components of immunosorbent test system for detection of antibodies to Epstein-Barr virus.

The thesis is focused on development of immunosorbent test system for detection of antibodies to Epstein-Barr virus. Au antigen containing some EBV proteins (EBNA, EA, VCA) for plates' sensibilization has been obtained, and its specificity confirmed. All stages of ELISA, composition of detecting components and buffer solutions were optimized. Hyperimmune polyclonal rabbit antiserums to purified virus and specific antigen have been obtained and characterized. Panels of positive and negative serum that guaranteed did or did not contain antibodies to EBV have been developed and used further as standards during design of the test system and determining the criterions for results evaluation. There was shown that specificity of "ELISA-AtEBV-strip" test system was 100%, and sensitivity - 96%. Using the test system and competitive ELISA, level of antigenic relationships of EBV and some representatives of Herpesviridae family was revealed as one of the criteriums of system's specificity. This index was ratherlow - 2,4%, 4,1% and 2,2% for herpes simplex virus1 types, cytomegalovirus and varicela zoster virus, correspondingly. Over 2 000 serums of different groups of Kyev' population (donors; healthy pregnant women; people diseased with infectious mononucleosis, lymphomas, tuberculosis) and 45 industrial series of "Normal human immunoglobulin" have been tested. There were detected high levels of antibodies to EBV suggesting serious intensity of specific immunity and widespread circulation of this virus. As a result of researches conducted, enzyme-linked immunosorbent test system has been developed in Ukraine for the first time that allows to human blood and to conduct differential diagnostics of EBV-induced diseased. Key words: Epstein-Barr virus, antibodies, enzyme-linked assay, test system and its specificity, sensitivity.