MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODIES (MABS) SPECIFIC TO SURFACE EXPRESSED ANTIGENS OF DITYLENCHUS-DIPSACI

Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were used to investigate differences among species and subspecies of Ditylenchus. MAbs raised against antigens of the oat race of D. dipsaci were screened by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using six races of this nematode and three other species of the genus. In total 141 of 798 MAbs showed some discrimination. Four MAbs were specific to a single isolate of the oat race of D. dipsaci (MAbs 1-4) and recognised antigens that were associated with cuticular annulations and the lateral incisures of the nematode. At high titre MAbs 1-4 also recognised similar antigens of other species of Ditylenchus and races of D. dipsaci Other MAbs recognised surface antigens with similar distributions whilst some were specific to just the lip region of the nematode.