title: Production and partial characterization of monoclonal antibodies to Mycobacterium leprae.
abstract: Monoclonal antibodies to Mycobacterium leprae were produced by the fusion of BALB/c splenocytes and lymph node cells to BALB/c myeloma (NSI/1) cells. Eleven monoclonal antibodies were characterized as to their reactivity with M. leprae and 18 other mycobacterial species by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunofluorescence. Two monoclonal antibodies reacted only with M. leprae, and the other nine showed unique patterns of reactivity by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. One monoclonal antibody (IIH9) reacted with a 68,000-dalton protein present in extracts from M. leprae, M. tuberculosis H37Rv, M. gastri, and M. smegmatis. Potential uses for these antibodies in serological tests and immunochemical analyses are discussed.
mesh_terms: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D000939:Epitopes; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006825:Hybridomas; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000276:immunology; D009166:Mycobacterium leprae / Q000276:immunology*; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000939:Epitopes