Abstract
Several recombinant antibodies against the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae), one of the most important pests in agriculture worldwide, were selected for the first time from a commercial phage display library of human scFv antibodies. The specificity and sensitivity of the selected recombinant antibodies were compared with that of a rabbit polyclonal serum raised in parallel using a wide range of arthropod species as controls. The selected recombinant monoclonal antibodies had a similar or greater specificity when compared with classical monoclonal antibodies. The selected recombinant antibodies were successfully used to detect the target antigen in the gut of predators and the scFv antibodies were sequenced and compared. These results demonstrate the potential for recombinant scFv antibodies to be used as an alternative to the classical monoclonal antibodies or even molecular probes in the post-mortem analysis studies of generalist predators.
Highlights
The trophic relationships between predators and their prey can be studied through a number of techniques including post-mortem gut content analyses
Rabbit Polyclonal Serum Rabbit polyclonal serum raised against C. capitata extract was able to detect the presence of the target antigen at the lowest concentration tested (100 ng/ml) using indirect ELISA (Fig. 1)
In this work we have for the first time selected and compared specific antibodies against the Mediterranean fruit fly, C. capitata, obtained from polyclonal serum raised in rabbit and from monoclonal antibodies generated from a commercial antibody phage display library
Summary
The trophic relationships between predators and their prey can be studied through a number of techniques including post-mortem gut content analyses. Methodologies for these studies comprise the use of protein electrophoresis, prey-specific protein antibodies or DNA analysis. Polyclonal antibodies have been used in predation post-mortem studies for more than 60 years [2,3,4,5]. These antibodies can be obtained in a relatively short period of time and are inexpensive to produce but do not show high specificity and the serum obtained is unique and limited [1,6]. Due to the lack of specificity, these sera need to be tested against a wide range of alternative preys in order to establish the lower threshold for positive detection when used to study predatory-prey systems [7]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
