Monoclonal antibodies directed against the flagella of Campylobacter jejuni: Cross-reacting and serotypic specificity and potential use in diagnosis

Abstract

Nine monoclonal antibodies directed against the flagella of Campylobacter jejuni strain 81116 have been investigated for serotypic and cross-reacting activity using a panel of 17 Penner serotype strains of C. jejuni. Four monoclonal antibodies were exclusively specific for serotype-6 strains, which was the serotype of C. jejuni strain 81116. Two monoclonal antibodies cross-reacted with all the flagellated strains of C jejuni tested. One of these cross-reacting monoclonal antibodies, CF5, was found to react with all other Campylobacter species except C. sputorum bulbulus but it did not react with other bacterial entcropathogens. An antigencapture ELISA technique was established, using this monoclonal antibody, which could detect flagellar antigen in human faecal material. These anti-flagella monoclonal antibodies therefore may be valuable in the diagnosis and serotyping of C. jejuni in clinical material. © 1986, Cambridge University Press. All rights reserved.