GENERATION OF MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODIES TO THE ANTITRYPANOSOMAL DRUG ISOMETAMIDIUM

Mice were immunized with either an isometamidium-hunan serum albumin ( HSA) conjugate or an isometamidium-porcine thyroglobulin conjugate (PT G). Thereafter, monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) IL-A 1001, IL-A 1002, IL- A 1003, 5F7.B7, and 5F7.C9 were generated and selected on the basis th at they recognized conjugated and unconjugated isometamidium, but lack ed cross-reactivity with the carrier molecules. All five MAbs were of the IgG, isotype. Each of the five MAbs was assessed in a competitive ELISA for isometamidium; in each case, the minimum level of detection was approximately 10 ng/ml. Each MAb exhibited approximately 0.1% cros s-reactivity with the anti-trypanosomal compound diminazene. However, based on their cross-reactivity with the anti-trypanosomal compound ho midium, the MAbs could be divided into two groups; IL-A 1001, IL-A 100 2, and IL-A 1003, produced using an isometamidium-HSA conjugate as an immunogen, exhibited low levels of cross-reactivity (approximately 0.1 %). In contrast, 5F7.B7 and 5F7.C9, produced using an isometamidium-PT G conjugate as an immunogen, exhibited high levels of cross-reactivity .