Preparation and characterization of monoclonal antibodies against neoplastic hemocytes of Mytilus edulls (Bivalvia)

Mytilus edulis develop progressive and fatal hemocytic neoplasia. We have generated monoclonal antibodies using neoplastic hemocytes from highly infected individuals collected from Puget Sound in Washington State (USA). Twenty-seven monoclonal antibodies against neoplatic cell antigens were obtained. Specificity of 2 purified antibodies, 14F1 and 16G10, was demonstrated by immunofluorescence when incubated with neoplastic hemocytes, whereas these anbidodies did not react with normal cells. This specificity was confirmed by immunogold labelling and electron microscopic visualization. The technique permitted localization of the epitopes recognized by the monoclonal antibodies on the plasma membrane. These monoclonal antibodies are suitable reagents for establishment of immunoassays for diagnosis and quantification of hemic neoplasia in the mussel

Monoclonal antibodies against Bonamia ostreae (Protozoa: Ascetospora), an intra-haemocytic parasite of flat oyster Ostrea edulis (Mollusca: Bivalvia)

The protozoan Bonamia ostreae (Ascetospora), a paasite of the flat oyster Ostrea edulis, was purified by differential and isopycnic centrifugations. Mice of the strain Balb/c were immunized with purified parasites and hybridomas were prepared by fusion of immunized mouse splenocytes with the mouse myeloma cell line P3-X63-Ag8-653. From the fusion, 12 clones were isolated and saved. The resulting antibodies were characterized with a solid phase radioimmunoassay (RIA). Antibodies from 7 clones reacted only with B. ostreae and not with normal host tissue. Although some of the antibiodies identified. One of these antibodies (20B2-1B12) has an apparent association constant of ca 3 X 10(8) M-1 and bound to a number of different sites on the parasite. These monoclonal antibodies should prove to be of great value as diagnostic and research tools