METHODS AND COMPOSITIONS FOR THE DETECTION OF LEGIONNAIRES DISEASE

摘要

Recombinant E. coli clones which cell surface-express Legionella pneumophila antigens, a method for utilizing these clones for the detection of Legionella antibodies in a clinical sample, and a method for isolation of mono-specific anti-Legionella antibodies are disclosed. The recombinant clones are produced by ligating fragmented Legionella DNA to pBR322 which is then used to transform the appropriate E. coli host. Clones that cell surface-express individual Legionella antigens are selected by screening cellularly intact clones using anti-Legionella antibodies to probe for cell surface expression. An enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) is disclosed which utilizes the Legionella antigen-expressing clones to detect anti-Legionella antibodies.