[Production and characterization of 3 mcAbs to Mycobacterium tuberculosis]

Three monoclonal antibodies to mycobacterium tuberculosis were produced and designated Ra1, Ra2 and Ra3. The spleen cells of BALB/C mice were immunized with intact, ultrasonicated M. H37Ra and H37Ra culture filtrate and were fused with NS-1 myeloma cells. The monoclonal antibodies were IgG2a, IgM and IgM respectively. The monoclonal antibodies were characterized by ELISA on 14 mycobacterial species. It showed that they reacted with H37Ra and some of mycobacterial species but did not with BCG. McAb Ral was used to prepare immunoabsorbent, and Ag-Ra1 was isolated from unheated H37Ra culture filtrate by affinity chromatography with the absorbent. Ag-Ral was a glycoprotein with MW. of 66 KDa and produced DTH in guinea pigs.