Detection of Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies mycoides by growth-inhibition using monoclonal antibodies.

A pool of three monoclonal antibodies, 3H12, 6D11 and 2A3, inhibited the in vitro growth of 12 Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies mycoides small colony (MmmSC) strains and seven Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies mycoides large colony (MmmLC) strains. This test did not cross-react with other 16 Mycoplasma mycoides cluster and nine non-Mycoplasma mycoides cluster strains representing 13 different species. Although MmmSC was not differentiated from MmmLC, the monoclonal antibodies distinguished both M mycoides subspecies mycoides biotypes from the other Mycoplasma species tested in contrast to results with polyclonal antisera.