Prevalence of a Vibrio cholerae 18-kDa antigen in vibrios.

An 18-kDa protein that occurs in Vibrio cholerae has been described as an in vivo and low-iron regulated outer membrane antigen. Monoclonal antibodies which recognized this antigen were protective as passive vaccines in the infant rabbit model of cholera disease. In this study, those monoclonal antibodies were used in three immunological assays for surveillance of various bacteria for the 18-kDa antigen. ELISA, and Western blot assays gave variable results with bacteria or outer membrane preparations. The biodot assay was the most sensitive test, detecting the 18-kDa antigen in 29 of 29 V. cholerae strains, independent of biotype or serotype. A few other Gram-negative bacteria and V. parahaemolyticus reacted weakly with our antibodies and antiserum.