Production of Monoclonal Antibodies to Vi Polysaccharide Antigen of Salmonella typhi

Twenty·four VI antlgen·apeclflc monoclonal antibodies were produced In this study. The MAbs were found to be highly specific to VI possessing bacteria. Selected MAbs were used in a direct agglutination assay for rapid Identification of S.lyphi In primary bacterial cuHure and also used to deyelop an assay to detect VI antigen In clinical specimens. The result showed that they could not detect the antigen in urine and serum from acute patients eyen they could detect as low as 0.02 {.Lg/ml of VI antigen added In normal urine. The study has shown that these MAbs are yery useful for rapid Identification of S.typhl In primary bacterial culture and they can replace polyclonal anti-VI antibodies which haye been used routinely In bacteriological laboratories. serogroup