PRODUCTION, CHARACTERIZATION, AND APPLICATION OF MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODIES TO VIBRIO-CHOLERAE O139 SYNONYM BENGAL

Mouse monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were derived against acetone-treate d whole cells of the newly recognized Vibrio cholerae 0139 serogroup w hich is causing epidemics of cholera-like disease in India and Banglad esh. Four MAbs specifically recognized the lipopolysaccharide antigens of V. cholera 0139. Mabs ICL9 and ICL13 were of the immunoglobulin M (IgM) isotype, ICL11 was of the IgG3 isotype, and ICL12 was of the Ig2 b isotype. A fifth MAb, ICL10, of the IgG2b isotype cross-reacted with V. cholerae 091. All five MAbs recognized V. cholerae 0139 in an enzy me-linked immunosorbent assay, slide agglutination test, motility inhi bition test, and indirect immunofluorescence test. During a 1-month ev aluation of these MAbs in our clinical laboratory, all 86 cases diagno sed as V. cholerae 0139 by a rabbit polyclonal antiserum were also det ected by these MAbs, establishing their utility as highly sensitive an d specific diagnostic reagents. With these MAbs, it should now be poss ible to screen for the V. cholerae 0139 serogroup in epidemic and ende mic diarrhea cases and in environmental and food samples.