Isolation and characterization of mouse monoclonal antibodies reactive with soft tick (Acari: Argasidae) salivary antigens of high molecular weight

The purpose of this study was to immunologically characterize soft tick salivary antigens. BALB/c mice hyperimmunized with salivary gland extract prepared from Ornithodoros talaje (Guerin-Meneville) were observed to develop high titers of antitick salivary antigen antibodies. Subsequent fusion of splenic lymphocytes from the hyperimmunized mice with SP-2/0-AG14 myeloma cells resulted in the production of 10 antitick IgM-producing hybridoma clones. Partial characterization of the respective tick antigens by gel filtration and SDS-PAGE demonstrated all 10 monoclonal antitick antibodies to be reactive with a salivary gland extract fraction containing proteins 50-110 kDa in molecular weight. Cross-reactivity assays and electrophoretic comparison of salivary gland extract specimens demonstrated similar proteins in several ixodid tick genera and species