THE PRODUCTION AND PARTIAL CHARACTERIZATION OF A MONOCLONAL IGG ANTIBODY SPECIFIC FOR MOLDS BELONGING TO THE ORDER MUCORALES

A monoclonal antibody (mAb) was raised against extracellular polysacch arides from Mucor racemosus after intrasplenic immunization of mice. A n indirect ELISA and a dot-blot assay were developed with this mAb. Th e IgG antibody was found to be very specific for all mould species tes ted belonging to the order of Mucorales, except species belonging to t he genus Mortierella sensu stricto. No cross-reactions were observed w ith other moulds or yeasts. The immunoreactivity of the polysaccharide s of these moulds with this mAb is based on carbohydrate epitopes, in which fucose residues probably play an important role. The mAb may be suited for specific detection of species of the genera Mucor, Rhizopus , Rhizomucor, Thamnidium, Absidia, Syncephalastrum and species belongi ng to the Mortierella isabellina group in food, and possibly for diagn osis of mucormycosis in humans.