Monoclonal antibodies: technology and application to gram-negative infections

Monoclonal antibodies have obvious diagnostic and therapeutic applications in infectious diseases. The technology for producing these highly specific reagents is readily available and we have produced monoclonal antibodies against the core glycolipid (endotoxin) region of gram-negative bacilli and the O-antigens of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. These antibodies are protective by different mechanisms and more than one antibody against a bacterium may give enhanced protection. Use of antibodies plus antimicrobial therapy may yield optimal results.