PRODUCTION OF A CELL WALL-SPECIFIC MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODY TO FIBROBACTER-SUCCINOGENES

A monoclonal antibody (mAb) was raised against Fibrobacter succinogene s and produced after fusion as ascites in BALB/c mice. An ELISA was us ed to test for specificity and sensitivity of the mAb to detect F. suc cinogenes. The mAb BD1 was tested for sensitivity and crossreactivity in detecting F. succinogenes with ELISA. The lower limits for F. succi nogenes detection in pure and mixed culture using mAb BD1 with ELISA w as 10(5) cells ml(-1). Twenty-six other species of bacteria, including 12 cellulolytic species, were tested for cross-reactivity with the EL ISA but none was detected. Electron micrographs off. succinogenes cell s with immunogold labelling showed that the mAb BD1 reacted exclusivel y with cell wall epitopes but not intracellular material, as confirmed by ELISA.