Immunochemical assay with monoclonal antibodies for detection of staphylococcal enterotoxin H

Abstract Staphylococcal enterotoxins cause food poisoning of various degrees of severity. For milk and meat products, there is a high probability of contamination with staphylococcal enterotoxin H (SEH). In this regard specific and sensitive methods are required to be developed for its detection and monitoring. In this work, the gene seh was expressed and a preparation of recombinant toxin was obtained. Using hybridoma technology, a panel of high-affinity monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to SEH was produced. The antibodies were characterized and shown to have no cross-reactivity towards the main staphylococcal enterotoxins (A, B, C1, D, E, G and I). Based on these mAbs, a method for specific and quantitative detection of SEH was developed in the format of sandwich enzyme immunoassay (linear range, 0.2–3 ng/ml). All the mAbs produced revealed SEH by immunoblotting. Immunochemical analysis of the culture fluids of staphylococcal isolates obtained from the milk of mastitis-infected cows by immunoblotting and sandwich enzyme immunoassay demonstrated the conformity of these methods. Using the developed method, the toxin was revealed in blood serum and liquid food products practically to 100%. From non-liquid foods, it was shown to be extracted to a maximum with a buffer of pH 4.0–4.5.