POLYCLONAL ANTIBODIES IN AN ENZYME‐LINKED IMMUNOSORBENT ASSAY (ELISA) TO DETECT BACTERIAL SPORES1

Abstract

The feasibility of broad detection of bacterial spores is illustrated using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The assay utilized polyclonal antibodies produced by immunizing rabbits and sheep with either inactivated Bacillus cereus T spores or Clostridium sporogenes PA 3679 spores. Using anti B. cereus T spore IgG, the ELISA detected, with varying sensitivity, spores of six Bacillus (including B. megaterium, B. subtilis, B. stearothermophilus, B. coagulans, B. subtilis var. globigii, and one unknown species) and C. botulinum 1304E spores. It did not detect other Clostridium spores (C. botulinum 62A, C. botulinum 12885A, C. botulinum 41B, C. perfringens NCTC8239 and C. perfringens ATCC3624). Using anti‐Clostridium IgG, the ELISA detected C. botulinum 41B but did not detect C. botulinum 62A, 12885A, or 1304E; C. perfringens NCTC8239 or ATCC3624; or spores of six Bacillus species. Vegetative cells did not react in the ELISA. The results suggest it may be feasible to develop a rapid and simple immunologically based test to estimate bacterial spore loads.