Production and Characterization of Monoclonal Antibodies to Bacteroides gingivalis

The rapid detection of Bacteroides gingivalis by immunological methods using monoclonal antibodies could greatly improve the diagnosis and prognosis of severe periodontal disease in adults. In this study, three distinct hybridomas were produced which secrete monoclonal antibodies to soluble and whole-cell antigen preparations of B. gingivalis. The BGII, V F9/2D hybridoma produced a murine antibody that can detect all of the B. gingivalis isolates studied while never cross-reacting with the other oral microbial antigens tested.Received September 11, 1985 Accepted October 31, 1985