title: Evaluation of monoclonal antibodies in serovar classification of group B streptococci (GBS). Brief report.
abstract: We have produced murine MAbs against the c protein from GBS and selected one anti-c alpha and one anti-c beta MAb for serovar classification of c-protein-producing strains. A total of 61 GBS isolates, classified by serotype-specific rabbit antisera, were tested in an immunofluorescent assay and whole-cell ELISA. The MAbs permitted classification of the isolates into 13 serovars. A total of 34 strains contained the c alpha antigen, seven strains the c beta antigen, and 20 strains both the c alpha and the c beta antigen. The distribution of GBS with regard to c-protein serovars was identical to that recorded when rabbit anti-c alpha and -c beta sera were used. The results show that the MAbs are directed against common epitopes on c alpha and beta, respectively. The MAbs will be useful in the serovar determination of clinical GBS isolates and in the study of the structure and immunobiology of c proteins.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Regional Hospital, University of Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: A I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Naess
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bevanger
authors.forename: O J
authors.initials: OJ
authors.lastname: Iversen
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Maeland
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D007106:Immune Sera; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C / Q000276:immunology; D012703:Serotyping; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae / Q000145:classification* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D007106:Immune Sera