Monoclonal antibodies against Aeromonas salmonicida lipopolysaccharide identify differences among strains

Abstract

Monoclonal antibodes (MAbs) dlrected agalnst Aeromonas salmonlcida salmon~cida lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were produced and character~zed The specificity of the MAbs (N = 4) to LPS was determined by examination of western blots of protemase K-treated whole cell preparations of A+ and A-stralns, i e stralns with and without a major surface protein layer the A layer The d~fferent MAbs Identified different epitopes on A salnionicida LPS Three of the 4 lMAbs (MAb 1, C, and D) reacted with all but a unique group of A salnlonicida strains tested These MAbs also had binding propert~es that were insensitive to per~odate oxidation of antigen The fourth MAb (MAb 6) reacted l a t h a more lim~ted collection of bactenal isolates and the binding was sensltlve to penodate treatment of antigen These data demonstrated that heterogeneity IS present in the LPS of thls species Lipopolysac-charide from all tested ~solates of A salmon~cida salmonicida (N = 10) and A salmomada nlasouc~da (N = 2) reacted with each MAb, while isolates of A salmon~cida achromogenes (N = 6) reacted with MAbs 1, C, and D but not with MAb 6 No patterns of similarity were apparent when unclassified isolates of A salmoilicida were exarnlned