In Vitro and In Vivo studies of monoclonal antibodies with prominent bactericidal activity against Burkholderia pseudomallei and Burkholderia mallei.

Our laboratory has developed more than a hundred mouse monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against Burkholderia pseudomallei and Burkholderia mallei. These antibodies have been categorized into different groups based on their specificities and the biochemical natures of their target antigens. The current study first examined the bactericidal activities of a number of these MAbs by an in vitro opsonic assay.

Relationship between antigenicity and pathogenicity for Burkholderia pseudomallei and Burkholderia mallei revealed by a large panel of mouse MAbs.

Burkholderia pseudomallei and Burkholderia mallei are two closely related gram-negative bacterial species classified by the CDC as category B biowarfare agents. To develop monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) that can recognize as many different strains and/or clinical isolates of these two pathogens as possible, we immunized mice with heat-killed bacterial whole cells and membrane preparations from multiple strains and/or clinical isolates of B. pseudomallei and B.

Development of mouse hybridomas for production of monoclonal antibodies specific to Burkholderia mallei and Burkholderia pseudomallei.

Burkholderia mallei and B. pseudomallei are designated category B biothreat agents on the "select agents" list established by the NIH and CDC. Development of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) that could effectively differentiate these two closely related species of bacteria and other non-pathogenic Burkholderia bacteria is urgently needed.

Ultrasound-accelerated tissue fixation/processing achieves superior morphology and macromolecule integrity with storage stability.

We demonstrate that high-frequency and high-intensity ultrasound (US) can be applied to both tissue fixation and tissue processing to complete the conventional overnight formalin-fixation and paraffin-embedding (FFPE) procedures within 1 hr. US-facilitated FFPE retains superior tissue morphology and long-term room temperature storage stability than conventional FFPE. There is less alteration of protein antigenicity after US-FFPE preservation so that rapid immunohistochemical reactions occur with higher sensitivity and intensity, reducing the need for antigen retrieval pretreatment.