Identification and characterization of genus-specific epitopes of Serpulina species using monoclonal antibodies

Four murine monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) designated as C9E8, A10, G12, and G8 which recognized both Serpulina hyodysenteriae and S. innocens were produced and characterized. The mAbs reacted with whole cell antigens in ELISA, indirect immunofluorescence and immunoblot assays. The mAbs did not show any cross reactivity in rapid dot ELISA or immunoblot assay with Leptospira icterohemorrhagiae, Campylobacter jejuni and Escherichia coli. Treatment of whole cell suspension with proteinase K and sodium periodate indicated that the reacting epitopes of the mAbs were protein in nature. The genus-specific antigens were identified as heat-stable proteins with molecular weight in the range of 26 to 45 kDa. Immunofluorescence and immunogold labelling studies showed that the antibody-binding epitopes were exposed on the outer-surface of the spirochaetal cell wall. The mAbs inhibited growth of reference strains of both S. hyodysenteriae and S. innocens in vitro but failed to cause agglutination. The detection of spirochaetal forms directly in fecal smears or paraffin-embeded tissue sections from experimentally infected pigs indicated that such mAbs were potentially useful for the diagnosis of swine spirochaetosis. This is the first report of mAbs identifying and characterizing common antigens of porcine Serpulina.     

Photoelectrochemical conversion of CO2 using nanostructured PbS–Si Photocathode

Journal of Applied Electrochemistry - A n-type nanostructured PbS thin films were prepared by chemical bath deposition onto flat Silicon (Si) and Silicon nanowires (SiNWs) which were derived from...     

Elaboration and Characterization of Amorphous Silicon Carbide Thin Films (a-SiC) by Sputerring Magnetron Technique for Photoelectrochemical CO2 Conversion

Silicon - Semiconductors as photoelectric catalysis is recognized as a promising strategy for simultaneous face energy crisis and environmental pollution. In this study, amorphous silicon carbide...