PRODUCTION OF MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODIES AGAINST XANTHOMONAS-CAMPESTRIS PVMANGIFERAEINDICAE AND THEIR USE TO INVESTIGATE DIFFERENCES IN VIRULENCE

Four Xanthomonas campestris pv. mangiferaeindicae isolates from mango black spot lesions were grouped according to differences in virulence and used to raise monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Two immunization appro aches were followed. In the first, four groups of mice were immunized, each with a different isolate and the spleens from each group homogen ized together for cell fusion. The second approach entailed immunizati on of a single group of mice with bacteria pooled from all four isolat es. The resultant mAbs were characterized with regard to the antigen b inding specificity and antibody class. A relationship between mAb bind ing specificity and virulence of the bacteria was shown by Western blo t analysis.