ABSTRACT
Objective:To identify the monoclonal antibody specific to Aeromonas spp.,a Gram negative bacteria causing gastroenteritis and wound infection.Methods:The monoclone,namely 88F2-3F4,was produced from hybridoma technology.The specificity of antibody secreted from 88F2-3F4 was tested against other Gram negative bacteria frequently found in gastrointestinal tract.Then the antibody was used for searching Aeromonas antigens in artificial seeded rectal swab cultures by dot-blot enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.Results:88F2-3F4 produced an antibody that recognized an antigen with a molecular mass of 8.5 kDa in all 123 isolates of the seven Aeromonas species tested,but recognized no epitope of any other Gram-negative bacterium typically found in the gastrointestinal tract.A dot-blot enzyme linked immunosorbent assay based on this antibody showed 86.49％ sensitivity and 92.13％ specificity.Conclusions:88F2-3F4 monoclonal antibody could react with all Aeromonas isolates,but not other Gram negative bacteria,therefore it should be a useful tool for the detection of Aeromonas antigen in clinical and environmental samples.