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Biology and pathogenesis has been studied in search for improved Anthrax detection methods. This invention focuses on a new and very promising monoclonal antibody to detect B. anthracis spores.

Recently, the structure of a tetrasaccharide carried by the exosporium glycoprotein BclA of B. anthracis was elucidated. The tetrasaccharide consists of three rhamnose residues and a unique monosaccharide - anthrose. Carbohydrate-protein conjugates containing the synthetic B. anthracis tetrasaccharide, were employed to immunize mice.

Monoclonal Antibody, MTA1, was purified using protein A affinity chromatography and cross-reacted with spores of a panel of 12 different virulent B. anthracis strains. Strain-specific multiple-band patterns were observed in immunoblotting experiments with spore extracts. Variations in the band patterns were not only related to differences in the length of the collagen-like regions of the BclA protein, but also to the general genetic background of individual strains.

While immune sera and monoclonal antibodies derived from tetrasaccharide immunized mice cross-reacted with some of the B. cereus strains tested, no cross-reactivity was seen with B. cereus strains belonging to the Cereus I lineage that is phylogenetically most closely related to B. anthracis.

Although not strictly specific for B. anthracis spores, antibodies against the BclA-associated tetrasaccharide may have great potential as immuno-capturing components for a highly sensitive spore detection system.

Field of Application

• Diagnosis of Anthrax spores
• Prevention in biological warfare
• Prevention to terror attacks
• Veterinary diagnostics

Main Advantages

• Monoclonal antibody to a unique tetrasaccharide of B. anthracis
• Highly sensitive antibody
• Detection of all common B. anthracis strains
• High potential as fast and sensitive Anthrax diagnostic test

Contact  

ETH Zurich
Corina Schütt
corina.schuett(at)sl.ethz.ch 

About ETH Zurich

ETH Zurich is a science and technology university with an outstanding research record. ETH Zurich is the study, research and work place of 18,000 people from 80 nations. About 350 professors in 16 departments teach mainly in the engineering sciences and architecture, system-oriented sciences, mathematics and natural sciences areas and carry out research that is highly valued worldwide. As an internationally oriented institution of higher education and a nationally grounded one this forward-looking task is fulfilled in service to the Swiss nation. Twenty-one Nobel Laureates are connected with ETH Zurich. Maintaining and developing its top standing in the international competition among top universities is an important task of ETH Zurich.

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