Detection of phialoconidia of Trichoderma harzianum in peat-bran by monoclonal antibody-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

Murine monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were raised against phialoconidia of a Trichoderma harzianum isolate T95. A hybridoma cell line, GH5, was raised that produced MAbs of the immunoglobulin class IgM that recognized, by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), antigens from conidia of T95. They did not react with antigens from mycelium or chlamydospores of this isolate but recognized antigens from conidia of a number of other T. harzianum and T. viride isolates. Heat, protease and periodate treatment of T95 conidial antigens showed that GH5 MAbs recognized a protein epitope that formed part of a larger glycoprotein molecule. GH5 MAbs were used to develop an ELISA for the detection of phialoconidia of T. harzianum in peat-bran.