Development of Monoclonal Antibody against PirB and Establishment of a Colloidal Gold Immunochromatographic Assay for the Rapid Detection of AHPND-Causing .

Acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) poses a significant threat to shrimp aquaculture worldwide, necessitating the accurate and rapid detection of the pathogens. However, the increasing number of species that cause the disease makes diagnosis and control more difficult. This study focuses on developing a monoclonal antibody against the insect-related (Pir) toxin B (PirB), a pivotal virulence factor in AHPND-causing , and establishing a colloidal gold immunochromatographic assay for the enhanced early diagnosis and monitoring of AHPND. Monoclonal antibodies targeting PirB were developed and utilized in the preparation of colloidal-gold-labeled antibodies for the immunochromatographic assay. The specificity and sensitivity of the assay were evaluated through various tests, including antibody subclass detection, affinity detection, and optimal labeling efficiency assessment. The developed PirB immunochromatographic test strips exhibited a good specificity, as demonstrated by the positive detection of AHPND-causing and negative results for non-AHPND-causing . The study highlights the potential of the developed monoclonal antibody and immunochromatographic assay for the effective detection of AHPND-causing . Further optimization is needed to enhance the sensitivity of the test strips for improved practical applications in disease prevention and control in shrimp aquaculture.