APPLICATION OF CLOTH-BASED ENZYME-IMMUNOASSAY FOR THE CHARACTERIZATION OF MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODIES TO SALMONELLA LIPOPOLYSACCHARIDE ANTIGENS

The specificity, detection limit, and stability of twelve anti-Salmone lla monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) were evaluated by cloth-based enzyme immunoassay (CEIA) and polymyxin-cloth based enzyme immunoassay (p-CEI A). Using the p-CEIA, five Mabs were found to react with cholate extra cted lipopolysaccharide (LPS) antigens of all 44 Salmonella strains re presenting 19 different serogroups examined, with the exception of the one strain of serogroup-O tested. These five Mabs did not react with cholate extracts of any of 16 Gram-positive or Gramnegative non-Salmon ella bacteria tested. The detection limit of purified S. typhimurium L PS antigen in the p-CEIA was approximately 40 ng for four of the Mabs and approximately 20 ng for the other Mab. Four of the five Mabs were stable during storage at 22 degrees C-23 degrees C for 24 h. These fou r Mabs are potentially useful for the immunodetection of Salmonella in foods and other samples.