Use of immunoglobulin-binding bacterial proteins in immunodetection

One of the aim of this study was to make universal chimeric conjugates to react with both avian and mammalian immunoglobulins in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). The periodate method was used in the conjugation process of cross-linking horseradish peroxidase to immunoglobulin-binding proteins (IBP) including staphylococcal protein A (SpA), streptococcal protein G (SpG) and peptostreptococcal protein L (SpL). By mixing up these three conjugates another four hybrid protein conjugates were created including protein LA (SpLA), protein LG (SpLG), protein AG (SpAG) and protein LAG (PLAG). Thirty-five ELISAs were standardized by a probabilistic combination of these immunoreagents. By using a panel of mainly mammalian immunoglobulins their reproducibility was checked by the determination of coefficient of variations (CV) for each one of the IgG-IBP binding. The source of immunoglobulins was their purification by affinity chromatography using a commercially available kit (PURE-1A). The other aim was to immunize chicken with the peptide fragment 254-274 of gp120 to produce anti-HIV peptide hyper-immune egg. Cats and rats were fed these eggs for a determined period until they produced the anti-HIV peptide antibody, which was tested by an indirect SpLA-ELISA and dot blot analysis that corroborated the production of anti-HIV antibodies by the mammalian species including positive humans samples for HIV. We conclude that the single and hybrid immunoglobulin-binding protein were effective in their binding capacity to immunoglobulins from a variety of mammalian species. The potential use of this proteins is in the arena of immunodiagnosis and immunoglobulin detection. Dot blot analysis proves effective in the detection of HIV anti-gp120 antibodies in several animal species. These antibodies can be used as reagents in the development of immunodiagnostic tests or experimental vaccines.