Development of a monoclonal antibody capable of interacting with five serotypes of Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin.

A monoclonal antibody capable of binding to determinants shared in common by staphylococcal enterotoxin serotypes A, B, C1, D, and E was developed. To accomplish this, BALB/c mice were immunized by alternating injections of serotypes A and D to enrich for spleen lymphocytes programmed to produce antibody to possible common determinants. These cells, fused with mutant myeloma cells (P3-X-63Ag8.653) produced hybrids that formed monoclonal antibodies to either serotype A only or to both serotypes A and D. A cloned hybridoma from the latter group produced an antibody (subclass immunoglobulin G1) which interacted with five serotypes. Highest affinity was to B and C1. An immunomatrix consisting of this antibody cross-linked to protein A-Sepharose CL-4B with dimethyl pimelimidate was capable of binding enterotoxin. Bound toxin was eluted with diethylamine. Because of its ability to interact with all five serotypes, the monoclonal antibody should prove useful in the development of a rapid method for screening foods for the presence of staphylococcal enterotoxin.