Hybridoma Cell Lines amd Monoclonal Antibodies to Clostridium difficile Toxins A and B.

Abstract : Clostridium difficile, the etiological agent of pseudomembranous colitis in humans and animals, produces two toxins, designated toxin A and toxin B, that are cytotoxic for tissue-cultured mammalian cells. Toxin B is approximately 1,000-fold more cytotoxic than toxin A per mg of protein. Toxin A also possesses enterotoxin activity and causes a fluid response when injected into ligated rabbit intestinal loops. These antibodies produced by a family of murine hybrid cell lines are cross-reactive with both toxin A and toxin B of Clostridium difficile. The monoclonal antibodies are useful in an immunoassay for toxin A and toxin B of C. difficile.