Monoclonal antibodies to the recombinant protein TmpA of the Treponema pallidum

Spleen cells from BALB/c mice immunized with recombinant TmpA were fused with mouse myeloma cells (P3/X63-Ag8), and five hybridomas secreting monoclonal antibodies were obtained. These hybridomas specifically recognize TmpA and do not cross-react with other molecules such as recombinant HBsAg of HBV and synthetic HCV core peptides. The monoclonal antibodies were IgG1 subclass and ascitic fluid from these hybridomas was purified by affinity chromatography on Protein A-Sepharose CL-4B column to isolate the IgG1 active fraction. The affinity constant of these monoclonal antibodies ranged from 6.4 x 10(8) and 1.73 x 10(10) M-1.