Antibodies for Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus
In Germany, experiments were carried out to compose different antisera for the detection of Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus (EPPO A2 organisms). Purified antibodies raised in chicken egg yolk were compared with those raised in rabbits in three ELISA formats.
Double antibody sandwich (DAS) ELISA proved to be the most sensitive assay with a detection limit of 5 x 105 bacteria/ml sample buffer for chicken yolk antibodies composed to 1 x 106 bacteria/ml sample buffer for rabbit antibodies.
The authors concluded that chicken egg yolk antibodies were as suitable for the detection of C.m. subsp. sepedonicus as conventional rabbit antibodies, but were easier to obtain in large quantities : 100 ml antibodies raised in chicken egg yolk were prepared from 276 eggs produced by 2 hens in 30 weeks.
Sources
Underberg, H.A. ; Sander, E. (1991) Detection of Corynebacterium sepedonicum with antibodies raised in chicken egg yolks.
Zeitschrift fr Pflanzenkrankheiten and Pflanzenschutz 98, 188-196