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Recognition of a genus-wide antigen ofLegionella by a monoclonal antibody

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Abstract

A monoclonal antibody was produced against a cytoplasmic membrane protein that appears to be common to all species of the genusLegionella. The antibody was positive in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blotting with extracts of all of 22 species type strains ofLegionella that were tested. The apparent molecular mass of the protein varied from 57.2 to 62.1 kilodaltons for the 23 species type strains ofLegionella. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed with the monoclonal antibody to enable rapid screening of clinical and environmental isolates forLegionella. All of 23 species type strains ofLegionella that were tested were strongly positive with the monoclonal antibody in the ELISA. Among 27 other bacterial species and 84 strains that were tested, onlyBordetella ssp. andAcinetobacter lwoffii were cross-reactive in the ELISA. These two cross-reactive species are readily distinguishable fromLegionella by culture characteristics. The monoclonal antibody may also be useful in tests to detect the genus-wide antigen in body fluids of patients with legionellosis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Meningitis and Special Pathogens Branch, Division of Bacterial Diseases, Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control, 30333, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

    Leta O. Helsel, William F. Bibb & Roger M. Mckinney

  2. Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Tennessee-Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee, USA

    Charles A. Butler & Paul S. Hoffman

Authors
  1. Leta O. Helsel
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  2. William F. Bibb
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  3. Charles A. Butler
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  4. Paul S. Hoffman
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  5. Roger M. Mckinney
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Helsel, L.O., Bibb, W.F., Butler, C.A. et al. Recognition of a genus-wide antigen ofLegionella by a monoclonal antibody. Current Microbiology 16, 201–208 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01568530

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