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 fro m 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 poly meric sIgA. Finally, an ELISA was developed to demonstrate the utility of the MAbs in analysis of humoral immune responses in baboons.