Rapid quantification and in situ detection of nitrifying bacteria in biofilms by monoclonal antibody method

Fluorescent antibody technique by the monoclonal antibody method is very us eful and helpful for the rapid quantification and in situ detection of the specific bacteria like nitrifiers in a mixed baxterial habitat such as a bi ofilm. In this study, twelve monoclonal antibodies against Nitrosomonas eur opaea (IFO14298) and sixteen against Nitrobacter winogradskyi (IFO 14297) w ere raised from splenocytes of mice (BALB/c). It was found that these antib odies exhibited little cross reactivity against various kinds of heterotrop hic bacteria. The direct cell count method using monoclonal antibodies coul d exactly detect and rapidly quantify N. europaea and N. winogradskyi. More over, the distribution of N. europaea and N. winogradskyi in a biofilm coul d be examined by in situ fluorescent antibody technique. It was shown that most of N. whogradskyi existed near the surface part and most of N. europae a existed at the inner part of the polyethylene glycol (PEG) gel pellet, wh ich had entrapped activated sludge and used in a landfill leachate treatmen t reactor. it was suggested that this monoclonal antibody method was utiliz ed for estimating and controlling the population of nitrifying bacteria as a quick and favorable tool.