Cross-reactive proteins among eight bovine mycoplasmas detected by monoclonal antibodies

Whole cell proteins of eight bovine mycoplasmas (M, bovoculi, M, bovis, M. dispar, M. bovirhinis, M. arginini, M. verecundum, M. canadense, M. alkales cens) were separated by SDS-PAGE and transferred to nitrocellulose paper. R abbit anti-hi bovoculi serum was found to react with immunoblots of all myc oplasma species tested. These cross-reactive proteins were in the range of 35,000-100,000 molecular weight. Monoclonal antibody MA25.5 developed again st a M. bovoculi 94 kDa surface protein cross-reacted with a band of 62 kDa from M. dispar and three bands of 89, 85 and 74 kDa from M. arginini only while MA18.13 that recognized a band of 57 kDa from M. bovoculi did not rea ct with the other species. The role of MA25.5 monoclonal antibody in inhibi ting the growth of hi, bovoculi, ill. dispar and M. arginini was tested usi ng the metabolic-inhibition (MI) test. Monoclonal antibody MA25.5 inhibited the growth of M. bovoculi and also inhibited ill dispar growth but at lowe r MI titers, while it showed no effect on the growth of M. arginini. (C) 20 01 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.