| Abstract: | The results of this investigation indicate that preparations obtained on the basis of monoclonal antibodies have proved to be suitable for the detection of R. prowazekii antigens in the natural carrier of typhus when used in all types of the enzyme immunoassay; of these, the assay made by the capture method has been found to possess the highest sensitivity. The testing of the sensitivity limits has shown that this method known as ELISA-mu-capture, i.e. ELISA carried out with the use of antibodies to the mu chain of human immunoglobulin, is capable of detecting the antigen in a dose of 0.5-1 ng. Preparations based on monoclonal antibodies to species-specific R. prowazekii antigen permit the identification of the causative agent of typhus in its natural carrier within 24 hours. |
