PRODUCTION OF MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODY SPECIFIC TO CAMPYLOBACTER-JEJUNI AND ITS POTENTIAL IN DIAGNOSIS OF CAMPYLOBACTER ENTERITIS

A monoclonal antibody (MAb 3G6) specific for Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli was produced by immunizing BALB/c mice with a local strain of C. jejuni (28.1), No cross-reactivity was observed with Ent erobacteriaceae controls, By immunoprecipitation, MAb 3G6 identified a major protein band of molecular weight 45 kDa and also gave a slight reactivity with 30 and 55 kDa proteins. Using an indirect enzyme-linke d immunosorbent assay, MAb 3G6 was able to detect C. jejuni suspended in stool without cross reactivity to 14 other enteropathogenic bacteri a suspended, normal flora in fecal suspension, or fecal debris, In the analysis of fifty clinical specimens, MAb 3G6 detected most positive samples with the exception of one which possessed very low Campylobact er concentration and gave no reactivity to negative samples, demonstra ting its high specificity to C. jejuni and C. coli. MAb 3G6 may be sui table as a new tool for the development of diagnostic method for Campy lobacter infection.