A monoclonal antibody to Mycobacterium kansasii: preparation and properties.

An IgG2/kappa monoclonal antibody specific for a subunit protein antigen (mol.w. 32 KD) obtained by means of gel chromatography of the cell-free sonicate of M. kansasii was generated by the fusion of spleenocytes from BALB/c mice immunized with this antigen and Ag-8 myeloma cells. Its specificity was demonstrated by ELISA and dot blot procedures. This MoAb has potential application in taxonomy and species identification of M. kansasii isolates, in studies relating to the molecular pattern of the bound antigen and in serodiagnostics of the mycobacterial disease due to M. kansasii.