This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Fulop, M J Articles by Kelly, D C Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Fulop, M J Articles by Kelly, D C

Production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies directed against the lipopolysaccharide of Francisella tularensis.

Chemical Defence Establishment, Salisbury, Wiltshire, United Kingdom.

ABSTRACT

Two monoclonal antibodies (FT14 and FT2F11) directed against the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Francisella tularensis were produced for use in tests to detect the organism in environmental samples and clinical specimens. The specificity of the antibodies was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunoblotting. Both antibodies detected LPS from F. tularensis by ELISA, but only one antibody, FT14, was serologically active in an immunoblot. Treatment of the LPS with detergents prior to ELISA eliminated its binding to FT2F11 but not FT14. Qualitatively, both antibodies detected 10 different strains of F. tularensis by ELISA, but quantitatively, FT14 gave a detectable reaction with 10(3) organisms, whereas FT2F11 was able to detect only 10(5) organisms. FT14 did not cross-react with LPS from a range of other gram-negative species of bacteria, whereas FT2F11 cross-reacted against Vibrio cholerae LPS. Neither antibody showed cross-reactions when entire gram-negative organisms were used as antigens. In a competition ELISA, the two monoclonal antibodies were shown to compete for different epitopes. FT14 was strongly inhibited by purified O side chain from F. tularensis LPS, but FT2F11 was only weakly inhibited. It was inferred from those results that FT14 is directed against the O side chain and that FT2F11 is directed against the core.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Maier, T. M., Casey, M. S., Becker, R. H., Dorsey, C. W., Glass, E. M., Maltsev, N., Zahrt, T. C., Frank, D. W. (2007). Identification of Francisella tularensis Himar1-Based Transposon Mutants Defective for Replication in Macrophages. Infect. Immun. 75: 5376-5389 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Hotta, A., Uda, A., Fujita, O., Tanabayashi, K., Yamada, A. (2007). Preparation of Monoclonal Antibodies for Detection and Identification of Francisella tularensis. CVI 14: 81-84 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Thirumalapura, N. R, Goad, D. W, Mort, A., Morton, R. J, Clarke, J., Malayer, J. (2005). Structural analysis of the O-antigen of Francisella tularensis subspecies tularensis strain OSU 10. J Med Microbiol 54: 693-695 [Full Text]  
• Porsch-Ozcurumez, M., Kischel, N., Priebe, H., Splettstosser, W., Finke, E.-J., Grunow, R. (2004). Comparison of Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, Western Blotting, Microagglutination, Indirect Immunofluorescence Assay, and Flow Cytometry for Serological Diagnosis of Tularemia. CVI 11: 1008-1015 [Abstract] [Full Text]