Production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies against Clostridium perfringens Type D epsilon toxin/Producao e caracterizacao de anticorpos monoclonais contra toxina epsilon de Clostridium perfringens Tipo D

Clostridium perfringens type D is the aetiological agent of enterotoxemia in ruminants. The disease is caused by epsilon toxin characterized by cardiac, pulmonary, kidney and brain edema. Monoclonal antibodies were produced by using myeloma cell line P3-X63-Ag8 653 fused with spleen cells from Balb/c mice, immunized with epsilon toxoid of C. perfringens type D. Six hybrids were established secreting monoclonal antibodies of the IgM class and IgG3 subclass. Key words: Clostridium perfringens, epsilon toxin, monoclonal antibodies. Clostridium perfringens tipo D e o agente etiologico da enterotoxemia em ruminantes, causada pela toxina epsilon e caracterizada por edema cardiaco, pulmonar, renal e cerebral. Anticorpos monoclonais contra toxina epsilon de C. perfringens tipo D foram produzidos a partir da fusao da linhagen de mieloma P3-X63-Ag8 653 com celulas do baco de camundongos Balb/c imunizados com o toxoide epsilon. Seis linhagens de hibridos secretores de anticorpos monoclonais das classes e IgM e IgG foram estabelecidas. Palavras-chave: Clostridium perfringens, toxina epsilon, anticorpos monoclonais.