Production and characterization of serovar-specific monoclonal antibodies to serovars 4, 8, and 9 of Mycobacterium intracellulare.

Serovar-specific monoclonal antibodies against Mycobacterium avium-Mycobacterium intracellulare-Mycobacterium scrofulaceum complex serovars 4, 8, and 9 were prepared. Nine, four, and one monoclonal antibodies, respectively, to the serovars were prepared by the usual cell fusion technique. All nine monoclonal antibodies to serovar 4 were monospecific for their homologous serovar and reacted with several native glycopeptidolipids (GPLs) and one major deacylated GPL from the homologous serovar. One of the four monoclonal antibodies to serovar 8 seemed to be monospecific for its homologous serovar, but the other cross-reacted with serovar 6 because serovar 6 organisms contain the same components as does the major deacylated GPL from serovar 8. One monoclonal antibody to serovar 9 was monospecific for its homologous serovar and reacted with one of the two major deacylated GPLs from this serovar. These antibody preparations proved useful for serovar identification.