Effect of Trypsin Treatment on the Antigenic Characteristics of Plaque Variants of Type O1 and Type Asia-1 Foot-and-Mouth Disease Viruses

Antigenic differences were demonstrated between the large and small plaque variants of both types O1 and Asia-1 foot-and-mouth disease viruses. Treatment of the large and small plaque variants of the viruses with trypsin essentially abolished the observed antigenic differences. Thus, these plaque variants have antigenically different trypsin-sensitive determinants that may influence their immunogenicity and infection capabilities.