Use of monoclonal-antibodies for the detection of fecal bacteria in water

Abstract

Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against heat-killed Escherichia coli and Klebsiella oxytoca originating from wastewater effluent were raised in BALB/C mice. The fusion was highly successful and three hybridomas cloned were selected to study the affinity and specificity pattern of the MAbs. The MAbs were found to react equally well with heat-killed and live bacteria when tested against their original immunogens. The MAbs showed lower specificity towards environmentally isolated faecal bacteria than a pure bacterial strain grown in the laboratory. A commercially obtained MAb showed the same specificity pattern.