Monoclonal antibody detection of naphthalene dioxygenase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa 2NR

A monoclonal antibody, designated mAb alpha>(*) over bar * (CT), was genera ted against a peptide of the ISPNAP alpha -subunit of the naphthalene dioxy genase (NDO) enzyme of Pseudomonas aeuruginosa. Since NDO expression is ind uced by aromatic hydrocarbons, its detection is important as a tool for env ironmental biomonitoring. This antibody is highly specific and works well b oth in an indirect ELISA assay and Western Blot analysis, allowing the dete ction of Pseudomonas spp. expressing the NDO inducible enzyme. The detectio n threshold for the ELISA assay developed in this work was 10(4) colony for ming units (cfu) per mi. Thus, this mAb could represent a powerful tool to test for pollutants in soil, groundwater, and other natural environments.