Protective monoclonal antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis serovar- and serogroup-specific major outer membrane protein determinants.

Monoclonal antibodies exhibiting Chlamydia trachomatis serovar specificity (serovar A, B-Ba, or C) and serogroup specificity (B, intermediate, or C serogroup) were produced and characterized. These antibodies reacted with the major outer membrane protein, recognized epitopes located at the chlamydial cell surface, and passively neutralized chlamydial toxicity for mice. The antibodies should be useful reagents for defining the molecular structure of these protective epitopes, a necessary step toward the development of a subunit or recombinant C. trachomatis vaccine.