Cross-reactive monoclonal antibodies for diagnosis of pneumococcal meningitis.
A diagnostic test for the detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis was developed using monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to phosphocholine (PC) and non-PC determinants of pneumococcal teichoic acids. These MAbs do not recognize other bacteria that commonly cause meningitis. By using a dot blot assay, these MAbs were compared with a polyvalent pneumococcal capsular omniserum and an antiserum made to whole cells for their ability to detect pneumococci in infected spinal fluids. An immunoglobulin M (IgM) anti-PC antibody gave a positive reaction with 16 of 22 (73%) pneumococcal culture-positive spinal fluids. One false-positive result out of 45 pneumococcal culture-negative spinal fluids was also observed. D3114/63, an IgM MAb to non-PC determinants of teichoic acids, detected 15 of 22 of the pneumococcal culture-positive spinal fluids with one false-positive result. IgG2b and IgG3 anti-PC MAbs were less efficient than the IgM anti-PC MAb at detecting pneumococci in spinal fluids. Like the IgM anti-PC MAb, omniserum detected 73% of the culture-positive pneumococcal spinal fluids, with one false-positive result. The use of anti-PC or D3114/63 MAbs instead of a pooled serum such as omniserum has several advantages: (i) use of a single cross-reactive antibody rather than 83 pooled antibodies; (ii) possibility of a higher concentration of reactive antibody, which may increase the sensitivity of the test; (iii) a standardized antibody preparation; (iv) ease of preparation of the antibody; and (v) less expense.
Waltman
W D
WD
Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama, Birmingham 35294.
Gray
B
B
McDaniel
L S
LS
Briles
D E
DE
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000276:immunology; D003429:Cross Reactions; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000276:immunology; D008586:Meningitis, Pneumococcal / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010767:Phosphorylcholine / Q000276:immunology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000276:immunology*; D013682:Teichoic Acids / Q000276:immunology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D000939:Epitopes; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D013682:Teichoic Acids; D010767:Phosphorylcholine