Two monoclonal antibodies specific for serotype 4 antigen of Neisseria meningitidis.

Two new monoclonal antibodies (MN14G21.17 and MN14E9.15) specific for the serotype 4 antigen of meningococci were isolated. The antibodies were raised against a previously non-typable serogroup B strain from the Netherlands and were shown to react with the serotype antigen of the prototype reference strains for serotype 4 and serogroup A as well as with that of the homologous strain. Further screening of 290 serogroup A and B case isolates with the monoclonal antibodies indicated that the serotype 4 epitope was present on all 100 serogroup A strains tested, including representative isolates from 28 epidemics, and on most isolates from a recent serogroup B epidemic (1981-1983) in Cuba. In addition, 68 isolates from recent sporadic cases (1980-1986) and/or clusters of cases of serogroup B disease in many parts of Europe, the USA, the USSR and Australia were also of this serotype.