Species-Specific Monoclonal Antibodies for Rapid Identification ofBartonella quintana

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Abstract
Seven species-specific monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) toBartonella quintanawere produced and characterized. The MAbs were of the immunoglobulin G class and reacted only with 13B. quintanastrains in indirect microimmunofluorescence and Western immunoblotting assays. They did not react with eight otherBartonellaspp., includingBartonella henselae, the most closely related species, and a selected MAb did also not react with nine other strains of gram-negative bacteria. The MAbs reacted mainly with a 34-kDa protein epitope ofB. quintanawhich was shown to be species specific by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Four of five body lice experimentally infected withB. quintanawere found to be positive for the organism in microimmunofluorescence assays with one MAb. These MAbs may provide a specific, simple, rapid, and low-cost tool for the identification ofB. quintanaand the diagnosis of infections due to the microorganism.

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