Glucan-specific assay
AssigneeBioWhittaker Technologies, Inc.
InventorsChristopher J. Herbstritt, Michael G. Pepe
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention is directed to monoclonal antibodies which specifically bind to a Limulus .alpha..sub.2 -macroglobulin. Preferred monoclonal antibodies inhibit the enzymatic activation of a Limulus amebocyte lysate to form a gel or to cleave a chromogenic substrate in the presence of an endotoxin but not in the presence of a glucan. The monoclonal antibodies can be used, inter alia, to purify a Limulus .alpha..sub.2 -macroglobulin, and the preferred antibodies can be used in a method for specifically detecting a glucan in a test sample using an amebocyte lysate.
Claims8
A reagent for specifically detecting a glucan in a test sample, comprising:
- an amebocyte lysate;
- and
- a monoclonal antibody which binds to a Limulus .alpha..sub.2 -macroglobulin, wherein addition of the monoclonal antibody to the amebocyte lysate inhibits enzymatic activation of the amebocyte lysate in the presence of an endotoxin but not in the presence of a glucan.
A kit for specifically detecting a glucan in a test sample, comprising:
- an amebocyte lysate;
- and
- a monoclonal antibody which binds to a Limulus .alpha..sub.2 -macroglobulin, wherein addition of the monoclonal antibody to the amebocyte lysate inhibits enzymatic activation of the amebocyte lysate in the presence of an endotoxin but not in the presence of a glucan.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.