The use of immunodeficient male (CBA/N x BALB/c) F1 mice to produce monoclonal antibodies directed to proteins of Leptospira interrogans rather than to immunodominant lipopolysaccharides.

A method, using an immunodeficient mouse strain, for the production of monoclonal antibodies directed exclusively against the proteins in an antigen mixture also containing immunodominant LPS, is described. Male (CBA/N x BALB/c) F1 mice were immunized with an outer envelope antigen mixture from Leptospira interrogans strain Wijnberg containing both lipopolysaccharides and proteins. The immune response in these mice was shown to be predominantly directed against protein antigens. Hybridoma cell lines were generated by fusing spleen cells from a (CBA/N x BALB/c) F1 mouse with BALB/c Sp2/0 plasmacytoma cells. Hybridoma cell lines producing monoclonal antibodies reacting with the outer envelope preparation were identified by ELISA. All epitopes recognized by the monoclonal antibodies are sensitive to proteinase K degradation and resistant to oxidation by periodate indicating that they are located on proteins. All epitopes are located on a 35 kDa protein and specific for the pathogenic L. interrogans species.