Monoclonal antibodies against species-specific cephalosporinase of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Ten hybridomas which produced monoclonal antibodies against species-specific cephalosporinase of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were constructed by somatic cell fusion of SP-2/0 myeloma cells with spleen cells from hyperimmunized BALB/c mice and intraperitoneally injected into mice. Monoclonal antibodies were partially purified from ascites fluids. All ten antibodies thus prepared were IgG immunoglobulins. In a solid-phase immunoassay the antibodies gave positive reactions which could be prevented by the presence of free cephalosporinase. When the antibodies were precipitated with anti-(mouse IgG), the cephalosporinase activity was co-precipitated. Also, these antibodies were co-eluted with cephalosporinase activity in gel filtration. Nine of the monoclonal antibody preparations elevated the cephalosporinase activity by about 6-40% and only one inhibited it by about 50%. All the monoclonal antibodies were highly specific to P. aeruginosa cephalosporinase and showed no cross-reaction with nine cephalosporinases and four penicillinases of other gram-negative bacteria.