Production and characterization of murine monoclonal antibodies specific for serogroups E1 and E4 Salmonella

Two anti-Salmonella serogroup E-specific monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) are described. Neither antibody reacted with any of the 58 strains of serogroups A-D Salmonella tested by enzyme immunoassays nor did they react with any of the 21 other species of enterobacteria, 15 species of other Gram-negative bacteria, and 6 species of Gram-positive bacteria. In contrast, all 14 strains of serogroups E1 and E4 Salmonella reacted with both antibodies. Ascitic fluids of these two antibodies agglutinated all 42 strains of serogroups E1 and E4 Salmonella tested by slide agglutination method but did not agglutinate any of the 107 strains of other serogroups of Salmonella. Lysogenic conversion of serogroup E1 Salmonella strains by phages epsilon 15 and epsilon 34 resulted in loss of reactivities of these strains with the MAbs.