MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODIES AS TOOLS TO QUANTIFY MYCELIUM OF AQUATIC HYPHOMYCETES

Quantitative ELISAs have been developed to determine the biomass of tw o aquatic hyphomycetes in natural mixed assemblages. These assays empl oy a species specific rat monoclonal antibody (MAb) raised to Alatospo ra acuminata and a genus-specific murine MAb raised to Tetracladium ma rchalianum. The respective antigens are produced constitutively and th eir production is not affected by a range of culture conditions. The M Abs can also be used to study the spatial distribution of these fungi using immunofluorescence. Both antibodies recognize carbohydrate epito pes and belong to the immunoglobulin class IgM. The potential applicat ions of these immunoassays are discussed.