A NEW METHOD FOR IDENTIFICATION OF INTER‐AND INTRA‐SPECIES OF THE RED TIDE ALGAE CHATTONELLA ANTIQUA AND CHATTONELLA MARINA (RAPHIDOPHYCEAE) BY MEANS OF MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES1

Abstract

ABSTRACTFour monoclonal antibodies AT‐83, AT‐86, MR‐18 and MR‐21 were obtained from culture supernatants of hybridomas which had been established by cell fusion between myeloma and spleen cells of mice immunized with the raphidophycean algae Chattonella antiqua (H) O NIES‐83 and 86 and Chattonella marina (S) H et C NIES‐118 and 121, respectively. Antibody AT‐86 was reactive with all ten strains of Chattonella antiqua tested but not with those of Chattonella marina. On the other hand, MR‐18 was reactive with those of Chattonella marina but not with those of Chattonella antiqua. Species can thus be identified using these two antibodies. Antibody MR‐21 was reactive with some of the strains of Chattonella antiqua and all six strains of Chattonella antiqua and all six strains of Chattonella marina. AT‐83 was reactive with some strains of Chattonella antiqua By the selective reactivities of these four monoclonal antibodies, strains of the two species could be separated into two groups. AT‐83 could distinguish between Chattonella marina isolated from Kagoshima prefecture (reactive) and the Seto Inland Sea region (non‐reactive). Reactivities of MR‐21 suggested that at least two groups of Chattonella antiqua caused red tides in Harima‐Nada during 1977 and 1978. Monoclonal antibodies appear to be useful for the identification of inter‐species and grouping of intra‐species of these organisms.