Monoclonal Antibody-Coated Latex Agglutination Assay for Identification of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans

Summary Three monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to lipopolysacchar ide of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans strain Y4 (serotype b) and eight MAbs to a serotype b-specific polysaccharide antigen of strain Y4 were obtained. Latex particles sensitized with an MAb to the Y4 lipopolysaccharide produced a positive agglutination with whole cells of all three serotypes of A. actinomycetemcomitans , but not with Haemophilus apbrophilus , Haemophilus parapbropbilus , Haemophilus in(luenzae , Porphyromonas (Bacteroides) gingiva/is , “Bacteroides” intermedius , Fusobacterium nucleatum and Escherichia coli . On the other hand, latex particles sensitized with an MAb to the serotype b-specific polysaccharide antigen agglutinated with whole cells of serotype b A. actinomycetemcomitans and P.gingivalis , but not with heated and trypsinized cells of P. gingivalis . The simple and rapid latex agglutination assay using MAbs may be useful for the identification of A. actinomycetemcomitans .