Monoclonal antibody to alpha2-macroglobulin and its use for detecting glucan

摘要

The present invention is directed to monoclonal antibodies which specifically bind to a Limulus alpha 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 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.