Development and characterization of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies against Salmonella enterica Typhimurium for biosensor detection

For the construction of a biosensor to specifically and effectively detect Salmonella enterica Typhimurium, a monoclonal antibody (mAb) 1B4 and a polyclonal antibody (pAb) S48 were developed against purified outer membrane proteins (OMPs) of Salmonella enterica Typhimurium. Gel electrophoresis data indicated that the apparent molecular weight of the main OMP was 55 kD. The mAb 1B4 strongly reacted to Salmonella enterica Typhimurium and Salmonella enterica Paratyphi and had no cross-reaction to other gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria that were tested. The pAb S48 also showed high reactivity to Salmonella enterica Typhimurium, but had cross-reactivity with other tested bacteria. Because of the high specificity and sensitivity of 1B4 against S. enterica Typhimurium, it was immobilized onto a sensor platform to capture bacteria. The captured bacteria were visualized by a light microscope for their detection. The detection limit of the biosensor was 1 x 10(2) colony forming units/mL in bacterial culture and in a milk sample, and no other bacteria interfered with the binding of targeted cells. Therefore, a biosensor was developed that would rapidly detect Salmonella in the laboratory and in a food processing plant.