Production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies to toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 and use of a monoclonal antibody in a rapid, one-step enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of picogram quantities of toxic shock syndrome toxin 1.

Twenty-six hybridoma cell lines that produced monoclonal antibodies to toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 (TSST-1) were generated by immunizing mice with a highly purified preparation of TSST-1 and fusing their splenic lymphocytes with SP2/0-Ag-14 cells. One monoclonal antibody of the immunoglobulin G1 isotype, designated as PEC-1 10-2SCH, was selected for extensive study. The specificity of this antibody was determined by testing spent culture fluid filtrates of TSST-1- and non-TSST-1-producing strains of Staphylococcus aureus by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and enzyme-linked immunoelectrotransfer blot techniques. Monoclonal antibody PEC-1-10-2SCH was specific for TSST-1-producing strains of S. aureus, reacting with TSST-1 and two other proteins which appear to be unique to S. aureus strains that produce TSST-1. Monoclonal antibody PEC-1-10-2SCH was used in conjunction with polyclonal rabbit antibodies to TSST-1 in a rapid, one-step, sensitive, specific, and quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. This assay was shown to be more sensitive, faster, and simpler to perform than previously described isoelectric focusing, immunodiffusion, and solid-phase radioimmunoassays for TSST-1. Monoclonal antibody PEC-1-10-2SCH was not reactive with Staphylococcus protein A under the conditions of the test.