Development of monoclonal antibodies to rohu [Labeo rohita] immunoglobulins for use in immunoassays

Serum immunoglobulins [Ig] of rohu [Labeo rohita] were purified by affinity chromatography using bovine serum albumin as capture ligand. The purified rohu Ig [r-Ig] had a molecular weight [MW] of 880 kDa as determined with gel filtration chromatography. The heavy chain of r-Ig had an MW of 77.8 kDa and that of light chain was 26.4 kDa in SDS-PAGE. Purified r-Ig was used for the production of two anti-rohu Ig monoclonal antibodies [D7 and H4] that belonged to subclass IgG2b and IgG1, respectively. Both the MAbs were specific to heavy chain of r-Ig as seen in Western blotting. Anti-rohu Ig MAb was used as a diagnostic reagent in ELISA and immunocytochemical assays to demonstrate its application for sero-surveillance and for immunological studies in rohu. A competitive ELISA was used to demonstrate the antigenic relatedness of r-Ig with whole serum Ig of other fish species. Cross reactivity of anti-rohu Ig MAb was observed with serum Ig of Catla catla and Cirrihinus mrigala. No reactivity to serum Ig of Ophiocephalus striatus and Clarias gariepinus was seen. Anti-rohu Ig MAb was found to be suitable for the detection of pathogen specific [Edwardsiella tarda] antibodies in serum of immunized rohu by an indirect ELISA. In flow cytometry using D7 MAb, the mean percentage [+/-SE] of Ig positive cells in spleen and blood of rohu were found to be 64.85% [+/-2.34] and 51.84% [+/-2.55] of gated lymphocytes, respectively. Similarly, D7 MAb also stained 52.84% [+/-1.30] and 10.5% of gated lymphocytes in kidney and thymus, respectively. The anti-rohu Ig MAbs also showed specific staining of Ig bearing cells in spleen sections by the indirect immunoperoxidase test.     

Monoclonal antibody to type F Clostridium botulinum toxin

Hybridomas synthesizing monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against type F Clostridium botulinum toxin were developed. MAb from one stable hybridoma, hybridoma 223, consisted of kappa light chains and an immunoglobulin G subclass 2a heavy chain. This MAb was used in a double-sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to detect type F toxin in foods, culture fluids, and purified toxin preparations. The sensitivity of the double-sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was approximately 10 mouse lethal doses of toxin per ml of toxic fluid.     

Isolation and characterization of a cDNA coding for human myeloperoxidase

A cDNA encoding the carboxyl-terminal fragment of the human myeloperoxidase heavy chain was isolated and characterized. It was then used to determine the locations of the myeloperoxidase light and heavy chains in the polypeptide precursor. A cDNA library from poly(A)+ RNA from human leukemia HL-60 cells was constructed in pBR322 and screened by differential hybridization with enriched and depleted cDNA probes and then by hybridization with an oligonucleotide probe. A cDNA clone containing 1278 bp with an open reading frame of 474 bp and a 3' noncoding region of 804 bp was isolated. The amino acid sequence deduced from the nucleotide sequence consisted of 158 residues including a sequence of 14 amino acids known to be present in the heavy chain of the molecule. The cDNA also included a stop codon of TAG followed by a noncoding sequence that included a potential recognition site for polyadenylylation and a poly(A) tail. RNA transfer blot analysis with the cDNA probe indicated that myeloperoxidase mRNA was approximately 3.3 kb in length. In vitro translation of the mRNA selected by cDNA hybridization revealed preferential synthesis of a 74,000-Da polypeptide precursor that could be precipitated with anti-myeloperoxidase IgG. Antibodies specific for the heavy and light chains of myeloperoxidase were isolated from antiserum by affinity chromatography employing Sepharose columns covalently bound to the heavy or light chains. Antibodies specific for the light chain or the heavy chain readily precipitated the 74,000-Da precursor polypeptide. These results indicated that myeloperoxidase is synthesized as a single chain which undergoes processing into a light and heavy chain. Furthermore, the heavy chain of myeloperoxidase originates from the carboxyl terminus of the precursor polypeptide.     

Engineering and expression of a chimeric transferrin receptor monoclonal antibody for blood-brain barrier delivery in the mouse

Protein therapeutics may be delivered across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) by genetic fusion to a BBB molecular Trojan horse. The latter is an endogenous peptide or a peptidomimetic monoclonal antibody (MAb) against a BBB receptor, such as the insulin receptor or the transferrin receptor (TfR). Fusion proteins have been engineered with the MAb against the human insulin receptor (HIR). However, the HIRMAb is not active against the rodent insulin receptor, and cannot be used for drug delivery across the mouse BBB. The rat 8D3 MAb against the mouse TfR is active as a drug delivery system in the mouse, and the present studies describe the cloning and sequencing of the variable region of the heavy chain (VH) and light chain (VL) of the rat 8D3 TfRMAb. The VH and VL were fused to the constant region of mouse IgG1 heavy chain and mouse kappa light chain, respectively, to produce a new chimeric TfRMAb. The chimeric TfRMAb was expressed in COS cells following dual transfection with the heavy and light chain expression plasmids, and was purified by protein G affinity chromatography. The affinity of the chimeric TfRMAb for the murine TfR was equal to the 8D3 MAb using a radio-receptor assay and mouse fibroblasts. The chimeric TfRMAb was radio-labeled and injected into mice for a pharmacokinetics study of the clearance of the chimeric TfRMAb. The chimeric TfRMAb was rapidly taken up by mouse brain in vivo at a level comparable to the rat 8D3 MAb. In summary, these studies describe the genetic engineering, expression, and validation of a chimeric TfRMAb with high activity for the mouse TfR, which can be used in future engineering of therapeutic fusion proteins for BBB drug delivery in the mouse.     

Catalytic antibody light chain capable of cleaving a chemokine receptor CCR-5 peptide with a high reaction rate constant

A monoclonal antibody (MAb), ECL2B-2, was obtained by immunizing a peptide possessing a part of a sequence of a chemokine receptor, CCR-5, which is present as a membrane protein on the macrophage surface, and which plays an important role in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. From the DNA and the deduced amino acid sequences of the light and heavy chains of ECL2B-2 MAb, molecular modeling was conducted to calculate the steric conformation of the antibody. Modeling suggested that the structure of ECL2B-2 could possess one or two catalytic triad(s), composed of Asp(1), Ser(27a) (or Ser(27e)), and His(93) (or His(27d)), in the light chain of ECL2B-2. The three amino acid residues, Asp(1), Ser(27a), and His(93), are identical to those of catalytic antibody light chains such as VIPase and i41SL1-2. The light chain of ECL2B-2 MAb degraded the antigenic peptide CCR-5 within about 100 h. Surprisingly, the light chain had a very high catalytic reaction rate constant (k(cat)) of 2.23 min(-1), which is greater by factors of tens to hundreds than those of natural catalytic antibodies obtained previously. The heavy chain of ECL2B-2 MAb, which has no catalytic triad because of a lack of His residue, did not degrade the CCR-5 peptide.     

Cloning and characterization of cDNAs coding for heavy and light chains of a monoclonal antibody specific for pre-S2 antigen of hepatitis B virus.

Binding specificity of a monoclonal antibody (mAb) (kappa, gamma 2b) H8 which can react with the pre-S2 peptide of hepatitis B virus (HBV) was determined by Western blot analyses. From the hybridoma cell line secreting mAb H8, poly(A)+ RNA was prepared and used as a template for cDNA synthesis and cloning. Full-length cDNAs coding for the heavy and kappa light chains of the mAb were cloned from the cDNA library and characterized by nucleotide (nt) sequence analyses and N-terminal amino acid sequencing. The sequence analyses revealed that both heavy and light chain-specific cDNAs are functional, and the variable regions of the heavy and light chains are members of mouse heavy chain subgroup III(c) and light chain group I, respectively. Comparison of the nt sequences with mouse immunoglobulin genes listed in the GenBank data base show that the cDNAs have not been previously reported. The cDNAs will be used for the construction of a therapeutic antibody for HBV infection.     

Monoclonal antibodies that distinguish inner core, outer core, and lipid A regions of Pseudomonas aeruginosa lipopolysaccharide.

In order to examine the immunochemistry of the core-lipid A region of Pseudomonas aeruginosa lipopolysaccharide (LPS), monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) specific for this region were produced in mice. Immunogen was prepared by coating a rough mutant of P. aeruginosa with column-purified core oligosaccharide fractions in order to enhance the immune response to the LPS core-lipid A region. Fourteen hybridoma clones were isolated, characterized, and further divided into three groups on the basis of their reactivities to rough LPS antigens in both enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and Western immunoblots. In addition, another MAb, 18-19, designated group 1, was included in this study for defining core-lipid A epitopes. MAb 18-19 recognizes the LPS core-plus-one O-repeat unit of the serologically cross-reactive P. aeruginosa O2, O5, and O16. Group 2 MAbs are specific for the LPS outer core region and reacted with P. aeruginosa O2, O5, O7, O8, O10, O16, O18, O19, and O20, suggesting that these serotypes share a common outer core type. Group 3 MAbs recognize the inner core region and reacted with all 20 P. aeruginosa serotypes as well as with other Pseudomonas species, revealing the conserved nature of this region. Group 4 MAbs are specific for lipid A and reacted with all gram-negative organisms tested. Immunoassays using these MAbs and well-defined rough mutants, in addition to the recently determined P. aeruginosa core structures, have allowed us to precisely define immunodominant epitopes within the LPS core region.     

Occurrence of D-rhamnan as the common antigen reactive against monoclonal antibody E87 in Pseudomonas aeruginosa IFO 3080 and other strains.

S. Sawada and co-workers reported that a monoclonal antibody (MAb), E87, interacted with about 80% of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates, and they separated a rhamnose-rich polysaccharide as the probable antigen for MAb E87 from P. aeruginosa IFO 3080 (S. Sawada, T. Kawamura, Y. Masuho, and K. Tomibe, J. Infec. Dis. 152:1290-1299, 1985). In the present study, the rhamnose-rich polysaccharide was shown to be structurally and immunologically identical to the D-rhamnan of P. aeruginosa IID 1008 (S. Yokota, S. Kaya, S. Sawada, T. Kawamura, Y. Araki, and E. Ito, Eur. J. Biochem. 167:203-209, 1987). Furthermore, a set of enzymes responsible for the formation of GDP-rhamnose (probably in a D-form) from GDP-D-mannose was found in the 100,000 x g supernatant fractions obtained from all of nine P. aeruginosa strains reactive against MAb E87. The result strongly supports a possibility that lipopolysaccharides having a D-rhamnan chain widely occur as the common antigen among various P. aeruginosa isolates.     

Modification of the first constant domain of heavy chain enabled effective folding of functional anti-forskolin antigen-binding fragment for sensitive quantitative analysis

The assembly between heavy and light chains is a critical step of immunoglobulin (Ig) and fragment antigen-binding (Fab) antibody expression and of their binding activity. The genes encoding Fab were obtained from hybridoma cells secreting monoclonal antibody (MAb, IgG2b) against adenylate cyclase activator forskolin (FOR). The subclass of the first constant domain of heavy chain (C_H1) of IgG2b was modified to IgG1 via overlap extension polymerase chain reaction and expressed via Escherichia coli bacterial system. Since both Fabs (IgG2b and IgG1) were expressed as inclusion bodies, functional analysis was performed after in vitro refolding via stepwise dialysis. The result indicated that the folding efficiency between V_H-C_H1 and V_L-C_L was improved by the C_H1 modification from IgG2b to IgG1 subclass, although their specificity for FOR was not altered. Effective folding of IgG1 was also observed when they were expressed in the hemolymph of silkworm larvae using the Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus bacmid system. An indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (icELISA) was then developed for the determination of FOR using effectively prepared Fab IgG1. The sensitivity of FOR determination was in the range of 3.91–62.5 ng/mL with less than 9% relative standard deviation, implying the sensitive and reliable analysis of developed icELISA. In addition, high accuracy of the icELISA was supported by the results of spiked-and-recovery tests, ranging from 100.2 to 102.3%. Therefore, Fab could be utilized reliably for icELISA instead of the more expensive MAb. Collectively, this approach improved productivity of Fab and reduced the cost of antibody production.     

Use of a monoclonal rat anti-mouse Ig light chain (RAMOL-1) antibody reduces background binding in immunohistochemical and fluorescent antibody analysis

Rat monoclonal antibodies (MAb) directed to mouse Ig heavy and light chain determinants were produced. A rat anti-mouse light chain MAb (RAMOL-1) which bound to all (24/24) mouse Ig of the kappa light chain type and with varying strength to 4/4 lambda light chain-bearing Ig was evaluated as a general secondary reagent, together with two MAb that bound to the heavy chain of mouse IgG. They were conjugated with biotin or FITC and used in immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence assays to detect mouse monoclonal antibodies binding to antigens expressed in rat and human tissues and cells. As compared to commercially available polyclonal reagents, RAMOL-1 gave higher staining contrast by showing lower background staining and equal or higher staining of the primary MAb tested. This was a result of two main effects. First, crossreactivity with endogenous Ig and tissue type-specific determinants was eliminated. With polyclonal anti-mouse Ig reagents, binding to endogenous Ig was noted in vascular spaces and on Ig-bearing cells, and to rat gastric mucosa and epithelial tumor tissue in frozen tissue sections, even when diluted in high concentrations of serum homologous to the tissue. Second, binding of the secondary reagent was reduced to cells and tissues prone to have high nonspecific binding capability, such as monocytes/macrophages and formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue. Owing to unlimited and reproducible access to this homogeneous reagent, RAMOL-1 is used as second antibody to standardize the procedure used for immunohistochemical grading of human malignant tumors by determination of blood group antigen expression detected with mouse MAb.     

Immunochemical examination of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa glycocalyx: a monoclonal antibody which recognizes L-guluronic acid residues of alginic acid

Mice immunized with Formalin-fixed mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa cells developed an immune response directed, in part, towards the P. aeruginosa glycocalyx. The polyclonal mouse sera produced good immunofluorescent staining of the P. aeruginosa glycocalyx and cell surface. A library of 250 hybridoma cell lines which produced monoclonal antibodies directed against P. aeruginosa was established. Twelve clones (4.8%) produced antibody which reacted with alginate in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Clone Ps 53 was chosen for further study, cloned, and an ascites tumor established. Clone Ps 53 was chosen for further study because the antibody produced demonstrated a specificity similar to that of a recently isolated heparin--rat-lung lectin which recognizes alginates of the Homma nontypable P. aeruginosa strains. The Ps 53 clone produced an immunoglobulin M which reacted with P. aeruginosa alginate and produced good immunofluorescent staining of the P. aeruginosa glycocalyx. The Ps 53 monoclonal antibody has an apparent specificity for L-guluronic residues in ELISA. Competitive binding studies with various alginates and monosaccharides suggest that the C6 carboxyl group of uronic acids are recognized by the antibody and that the antigen-binding site is fairly large and may recognize a particular sequence or epitope of alginic acid which is rich in L-guluronic acid. The Ps 53 monoclonal antibody did not react uniformily with all P. aeruginosa alginates but did react with all of the alginates of the Homma nontypable strains tested, suggesting that acetylation or various modifications found in P. aeruginosa alginates may interfere with antibody binding and define specific epitopes. The Ps 53 antibody also reacted with purified outer membrane, indicating that some alginate or L-guluronic acid is intimately associated with outer membrane.     

Production, characterisation and applicability of monoclonal antibodies to immunoglobulin of Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus)

Immunoglobulin (Ig) of Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) was purified by a combination of salting-out and DEAE Sepharose Column chromatography. The purified immunoglobulin had an apparent molecular weight of 74 kDa (heavy chain) and 24 kDa (light chain) in SDS-PAGE. Eighteen hybridomas secreting monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against Japanese flounder Ig were obtained by immunisation of Balb/C mice with purified Ig preparations, which were selected on the basis of the double indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (D-ELISA). Two of them designated as 2D8 and 2H1 were cloned by limiting dilution and characterised with western blotting, indirect immunofluorescence assay test (IIFAT) and fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS) analysis. Under reducing conditions in western blotting, both MAb 2D8 and MAb 2H1 were specific for the heavy chain of Japanese flounder Ig. MAb 2D8 was used to identify surface Ig-positive lymphocytes in the peripheral blood, spleen and pronephros of healthy Japanese flounder by flow cytometry. FACS analysis revealed that 40.48% of lymphocytes in the peripheral blood, 17.32% in the spleen and 9.67% in the pronephros were reactive to 2D8.     

Immunohistochemical localization in normal tissues of different epitopes in the multidrug transport protein P170: evidence for localization in brain capillaries and crossreactivity of one antibody with a muscle protein

Using peroxidase immunohistochemistry, we examined the distribution of P170, a multidrug transport protein, in normal tissues by use of two different monoclonal antibodies (MAb). MAb MRK16 is a MAb that has been shown to react with an epitope in P170 located on the external face of the plasma membrane of multidrug-resistant human cells. MAb C219 has been shown to react with P170 in many mammalian species, and detects an epitope located on the cytoplasmic face of the plasma membrane. Using MRK16, we have previously described the localization of P170 on the bile canalicular face of hepatocytes, the apical surface of proximal tubular cells in kidney, and the surface epithelium in the lower GI tract in normal human tissues. In this work, we report that MRK16 also detects P170 in the capillaries of some human brain samples. A similar pattern was found using MAb C219 in rat tissues. in addition, MAb C219 showed intense localization in selected skeletal muscle fibers and all cardiac muscle fibers in rat and human tissues. ATPase cytochemistry showed that these reactive skeletal muscle fibers were of the type I (slow-twitch) class. Other additional sites of C219 reactivity in rat tissues were found in pancreatic acini, seminal vesicle, and testis. Electrophoretic gel immunoblotting showed two protein bands reactive with MAb C219. In liver, MAb C219 reacted with a approximately 170 KD band. In skeletal and cardiac muscle, MAb C219 reacted with a approximately 200 KD band which migrated in the same position as myosin. This band also reacted with an antibody to skeletal muscle myosin. This result suggests that C219 may crossreact with the heavy chain of muscle myosin in cardiac and skeletal muscle. Because MAb C219 reacts with proteins other than P170, it should be used with caution in studies of multidrug resistance.     

Preparation of monoclonal antibodies to glutathione S-transferase-pi and application to immunohistochemical study

Glutathione S-transferase (GST) EC 2.5.2.18) catalyzes conjugation of reduced glutathione with hydrophobic substrates, such as S-epoxide active molecules. It participates in glutathione metabolism and the gamma-glutamyl cycle, playing an important role in detoxification and biosynthesis of many compounds. It is also known as a marker of pre-neoplasia in chemical hepatocarcinogenesis. Isoelectric focusing studies have revealed that this enzyme is composed of several isozymes, one of which, an acidic form of GST called GST-pi, has been extracted from human placenta. In this study, we prepared monoclonal antibodies (MAb) against human GST-pi from placenta. Specificity was confirmed by immunoblots of GST-pi after polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and inhibition testing of enzyme activity by the antibody. The subclass of the antibody was IgG1 and the light chain was kappa. In light microscopic immunohistochemical studies of human placenta using the MAb, GST-pi was localized diffusely in the cytoplasm and along the apical cell membranes of syncytial cells in villi and in the cytoplasm of cytotrophoblastic cells in the basal plate. The MAb we prepared may also be useful for analyzing the enzyme's function in detoxification and biosynthesis of many compounds, as well as for oncological studies, such as diagnosis of malignant disease and localization of oncofetal proteins in malignant tissues.     

Role of cytochrome P450 IA2 in acetanilide 4-hydroxylation as determined with cDNA expression and monoclonal antibodies

The role of P450 IA2 in the hydroxylation of acetanilide was examined using an inhibitory monoclonal antibody (MAb) 1-7-1 and vaccinia cDNA expression producing murine P450 IA1 (mIA1), murine P450 IA2 (mIA2), or human P450 IA2 (hIA2). Acetanilide hydroxylase (AcOH) activity was measured using an HPLC method with more than 500-fold greater sensitivity than previously described procedures. This method, which does not require the use of radioactive acetanilide, was achieved by optimizing both the gradient system and the amount of enzyme needed to achieve detection by uv light. MAb 1-7-1 inhibits up to 80% of the AcOH activity in both rat liver microsomes and cDNA expressed mouse and human P450 IA2. MAb 1-7-1, which recognizes both P450 IA1 and P450 IA2, completely inhibits the aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) activity of cDNA expressed in IA1. The inhibition of only 80% of the AHH activity present in MC liver microsomes by MAb 1-7-1 suggests that additional P450 forms are contributing to the overall AHH activity present in methylcholanthrene (MC)-liver microsomes as MAb 1-7-1 almost completely inhibits the AHH activity of expressed mIA1. Maximal inhibition of IA2 by 1-7-1 results in an 80% decrease in acetanilide hydroxylase activity in both liver microsomes and expressed mouse and human IA2. The capacity of MAb 1-7-1 to produce identical levels of inhibition of acetanilide hydroxylase activity in rat MC microsomes (80%) and in expressed mouse (81%) and human P450 IA2 (80%) strongly suggests that P450 IA2 is the major and perhaps the only enzyme responsible for the metabolism of acetanilide. These results demonstrate the complementary utility of monoclonal antibodies and cDNA expression for defining the contribution of specific P450 enzymes to the metabolism of a given substrate. This complementary approach allows for a more precise determination of the inhibitory capacity of MAb with respect to the metabolic capacity of the target P450.     

Evidence that WapB is a 1,2-glucosyltransferase of Pseudomonas aeruginosa involved in Lipopolysaccharide outer core biosynthesis

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important opportunistic pathogen infecting debilitated individuals. One of the major virulence factors expressed by P. aeruginosa is lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which is composed of lipid A, core oligosaccharide (OS), and O-antigen polysaccharide. The core OS is divided into inner and outer regions. Although the structure of the outer core OS has been elucidated, the functions and mechanisms of the glycosyltransferases involved in core OS biogenesis are currently unknown. Here, we show that a previously uncharacterized gene, pa1014, is involved in outer core biosynthesis, and we propose to rename this gene wapB. We constructed a chromosomal mutant, wapB::Gm, in a PAO1 (O5 serotype) strain background. Characterization of the LPS from the mutant by Western immunoblotting showed a lack of reactivity to PAO1 outer core-specific monoclonal antibody (MAb) 5c-101. The chemical structure of the core OS of the wapB mutant was elucidated using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and mass spectrometry techniques and revealed that the core OS of the wapB mutant lacked the terminal β-1,2-linked-d-glucose residue. Complementation of the mutant with wapB in trans restored the core structure to one that is identical to that of the wild type. Eleven of the 20 P. aeruginosa International Antigenic Typing Scheme (IATS) serotypes produce LPSs that lack the terminal d-glucose residue (Glc(IV)). Interestingly, expressing wapB in each of these 11 serotypes modifies each of their outer core OS structures, which became reactive to MAb 5c-101 in Western immunoblotting, suggesting the presence of a terminal d-glucose in these core OS structures. Our results strongly suggested that wapB encodes a 1,2-glucosyltransferase.     

Production and characterization of murine monoclonal antibodies specific for baboon IgG heavy and light chain epitopes

We have generated a panel of murine monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) that recognize baboon IgG epitopes. The reactivity of the MAbs with IgG from other primate species was also examined. Specificity for IgG heavy (H) or light (L) chain epitopes was determined by Western blot analysis. The H chain-specific MAbs were analyzed for IgG subclass specificity and the L chain-specific MAbs for reactivity with baboon IgM and polymeric sIgA. Finally, an ELISA was developed to demonstrate the utility of the MAbs in analysis of humoral immune responses in baboons.     

Nature and reactivity of staphylococcal enterotoxin A monoclonal antibodies

Monoclonal antibodies from four clones (C5, C3, B2II, and B2I) directed against staphylococcal enterotoxin A were tested by the indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and double-gel immunodiffusion (micro-Ouchterlony) assay for the nature of heavy and light chain types. The reactivities of monoclonal antibodies were also tested by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with various levels of purified staphylococcal enterotoxin A and various levels (dilutions) of monoclonal antibodies and saturation analysis-competitive indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The heavy-chain isotype of monoclonal antibodies was found to be an unspecified subclass of immunoglobulin G1, and the light chain was the kappa type. Monoclonal antibodies from all of the clones exhibited high reactivity and nearly the same affinity to staphylococcal enterotoxin A in saturation analysis-competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Purified immunoglobulin G from B2I yielded very high absorbance (1.2) at 405 nm with 1 ng of staphylococcal enterotoxin A as the coating antigen in the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Monoclonal antibodies from B2I also neutralized the biological activity of staphylococcal enterotoxin A when tested by the kitten bioassay.     

Protective monoclonal antibodies recognize epitopes located on the major outer membrane protein of Chlamydia trachomatis

A panel of monoclonal antibodies (MAb) was generated against Chlamydia trachomatis serovar B, an etiologic agent of blinding trachoma. The specificities of MAb were determined by dot blot assay by using viable elementary bodies of 13 C. trachomatis serovars and two C. psittaci strains. The dot blot assay was used to identify those antigens that were unique and immunoaccessible on the chlamydial surface. MAb were identified that recognized bi-specific (serovars B and Ba) or subspecies-specific (various B complex serovars) surface-exposed antigenic determinants that were either resistant or sensitive to heat denaturation (56 degrees C, 30 min). All of the MAb recognized the major outer membrane protein as determined by either immunoblotting or radioimmunoprecipitation. MAb specific for immunoaccessible major outer membrane protein epitopes protected mice from toxic death after i.v. injection of B serovar elementary bodies and neutralized the infectivity of the organism for monkey eyes. In contrast, MAb reactive against non-immunoaccessible subspecies- or species-specific major outer membrane protein epitopes or against an immunoaccessible genus-specific epitope located on chlamydial lipopolysaccharide did not protect mice from toxic death or neutralize infectivity of the parasite for monkey eyes. These data suggest that those major outer membrane protein antigenic determinants that are serovar or serogroup specific and are accessible to antibody on the chlamydial cell surface may be useful as a recombinant subunit vaccine for trachoma.     

Production of engineered IgM-binding single-chain antibodies inEscherichia coli

Summary Two single-chain antibodies were engineered and tested as novel binding proteins with specificity for immunoglobulin M. Genes for the two single-chain Fv proteins were assembled from the variable light chain cDNA and variable heavy chain cDNA of monoclonal antibodies DA4.4 and Bet 2, which specifically bind human IgM and mouse IgM, respectively. Both single-chain Fv proteins were designed with a 14-amino acid linker which bridged the variable light chain and variable heavy chain domains. The two proteins were expressed inEscherichia coli, purified and assayed for IgM-binding activity. Both proteins demonstrate a binding specificity for their corresponding IgM which is similar to the monoclonal antibodies from which they were derived. These small IgM-binding proteins may have applications in the investigation of the immune response and in the detection and purification of monoclonal antibodies, cell-associated antibodies, and IgM from serum.