Derivation of Sirococcusstrobilinus specific monoclonal antibodies

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Abstract
Cloned hydridoma cell lines producing monoclonal antibodies to Sirococcusstrobilinus (a seed-borne fungus causing shoot blight in pine, spruce, and fir seedlings) have been prepared by immunizing BALB/c mice with whole mycelium and fusing their spleen cells with SP2/0-Ag14 myeloma cells. Specificity for S. strobilinus was ascertained by testing the monoclonal antibodies in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and by indirect surface immunofluorescence tests against a panel of seven nonrelated commensal fungi obtained from the same seed lot as the Sirococcus isolate used in the derivation of the monoclonal antibodies. The monoclonal antibodies produced by these selected hydridoma cell lines also recognize antigens from other S. strobilinus isolates from diverse host species and tissues. The monoclonal reagents will thus be useful as diagnostic probes for locating S. strobilinus in or on seed and other plant tissues. Preliminary characterization of the morphologic distribution of antigens recognized by the monoclonal antibodies is discussed.