Obtención de anticuerpos monoclonales dirigidos contra antígenos solubles de P. Falciparum

Abstract

This paper describes the production and characterization of two monoclonal antibodies against P. falciparum soluble proteins. One of the monoclonal antibodies indentified as M-45 detected one protein of 72 kd and two more of 30 and 26 kd in a P. falciparum schizont extract, by immnoelectroblotting. The other one, G-172 detected a protein of 120 Kd. Moreover, the two monoclonal antibodies showed different immunofluorescence patterns, both recognized Schizont infected erytrocytes: M-45 (M isotype) produced a generalized and uniform fluorescence, while G-172 (G2 a isotype) produced patches of higher intensity in some regions of the schizont. Later on, M-45 and G- 172 were used in an ELISA sandwich technique as capture antibodies for P. falciparum soluble antigens. Culture supernatants and five malaria infection sera were assayed. The results showed a 100% sensibility and specificity when the dilution sera was 1/20 and 80% sensibility for the 1/40 dilution. According to these results, it might be feasible to use these monoclonal antibodies in an ELISA test to follow the course of malaria infection.