Serological typing of coagulase-negative staphylococci using monoclonal antibodies

SUMMARYThis investigation was to determine whether monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) could be used to differentiate coagulase-negative staphylococci (C-NS) at species and strain level. Mabs were produced to fourStaphylococcus epidermidisstrains, twoS. haemolyticusstrains, oneS. saprophyticusstrain and oneS. warneristrain. A panel of nine antibodies was tested for species and strain specificity against five type strains and 65 clinical isolates of C-NS by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Species specificity was found with Mab D150 produced to oneS. haemolyticusstrain. Using Mab D150 and Mab D198 in conjunction, identification of 90% ofS. haemolyticusisolates to species level was achieved.S. saprophyticusMab K84 reacted with most other strains of C-NS tested but only threeS. haemolyticusstrains (16%). This finding provides further evidence thatS. haemolyticuspossesses different surface determinants to other C-NS which could form the basis of a typing scheme forS. haemolyticususing Mabs D150, D198 and K84.