Beschreibung:
<p>A library of monoclonal antibodies was produced to conidial spores of Gremmeniella abietina A- and B-types. 35 independent monoclonal antibodies were characterized for binding to spore and mycelia antigens from known races of G. abietina and 13 common fungi belonging to Ascomycetes, Deuteromycetes and Zygomycetes. In ELISA, 26 of the monoclonal antibodies reacted with spores and mycelia epitopes, three reacted with mycelia only and six detected mainly or exclusively spores. Only three of 35 antibodies reacted with spores of Rhizopus and/or Trichoderma. Five monoclonal antibodies recognizing well G. abietina spores, were selected for further immunoassay development. Two of them were eliminated due to lack of specificity. A14-1 and B106-1 showed a strong competition with each other but not with B20-1, and thus, two different surface epitopes could be detected. These epitopes existed in A-, B-, and Alpine amplitypes. Specificity was detected in ELISA, dot blot and immunofluorescence staining. Antibody B106-1 recognizes a very specific macromolecular epitope and was used to develop a prototype capture-ELISA immunoassay for the specific detection of G. abietina spores from natural samples. It reacted with spores from European, North American and Asian races and tested types of G. abietina with good specificity. Antibody A14-1 was used to develop a sensitive immunofluorescence detection method with a detection limit of one spore. These results indicate the unique nature of G. abietina spore epitopes and, more generally, the special nature of spore antigens. This unique finding was used successfully to detect spores from environmental aerial samples highlighting their potential use for fungus monitoring.</p>