[The isolation and characteristics of monoclonal antibodies to Mycobacterium smegmatis and M. kansasii].

Immunization of BALB/c mice with sonicates of M. smegmatis and kansasii and fusion of splenocytes of the immunized mice with cells of syngeneic myeloma P3X63Ag8653 yielded hybrid clones synthetizing antibodies to these antigens. The selection of hybrid clones and analysis of the antibodies specificity were performed at ELISA using the immunization antigens and antigens from other mycobacteria and E. coli. To define immunoglobulin class of the antibodies the authors used antiglobulin sera of class A, M, G. The monoclonal antibodies belonged to IgG. Molecular mass of polypeptides carrying the epitope against which the antibodies were directed was measured at immunoblotting. Two antibodies reacted only with M. smegmatis, 38 and 10 kD proteins. The other 2 cross-reacted with other mycobacteria and were directed against epitopes on polypeptides varying in molecular mass.