MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODY AGAINST SPECIES-SPECIFIC EPITOPE OF PSEUDOMONAS-AERUGINOSA HSP60 PROTEIN CROSS-REACTS WITH PSEUDOMONAS-STUTZERI AND OTHER PSEUDOMONAS SPECIES

In a previous study, we determined the epitope of the Pseudomonas aeru ginosa Hsp60 heat shock protein which is recognized by the specific mo noclonal antibody (MAb) 2528. Subsequent investigations revealed a wea k cross-reactivity of MAb 2528 with P. stutzeri, P. alcaligenes, P. me ndocina and P. pseudoalcaligenes. To elucidate the molecular structure for these cross-reactions, we cloned the P. stutzeri hsp60 gene in Es cherichia coli and determined the nucleotide sequence of the gene. In addition, the hsp60 gene of further Pseudomonas species was amplified and sequenced and amino acid substitutions within the epitope recogniz ed by MAb 2528 were determined. The decapeptide QADIEARVLQ is unique t o the P. aeruginosa Hsp60 protein, and cross-reaction of MAb 2528 refl ects the phylogenetic relationship of Pseudomonas species as P. aerugi nosa and all four cross-reacting species constitute a DNA homology gro up within the rRNA group I of the family Pseudomonadaceae, which belon g to the gamma-subclass of the Proteobacteria.