• KSBB Journal
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.82-90
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• 1999

In order to eventually fabricate an analytical system for infectious microorganisms, we synthesized major immunochemical components, utilized them for the construction of model system, and investigated an assay concept for bacterial whole cells. For the preparation of system components, a polyclonal antibody, against Salmonella thompson as model analyte, purified by immuno-affinity chromatography was used to chemically link to streptavidin or an enzyme, horseradish peroxidase(HRP). The antibody and streptavidin was modified with sulfosuccinimidyl 4-[N-maleimidomethyl]cyclohexane-1-carboxylate and N-succinimidyl-3-[2-pyridyldithio]propionate(subsequently activated by dithiotheritol), respectively. The modified components were reacted to synthesize antibody-streptavidin conjugates which were then purified on a two-layer chromatography column of diaminobiotin gel and Sephadex G-100. For antibody-HRP conjugates, HRP molecules were activated by $NalO_4$ oxidation and then coupled to immunoglobulin. After stabilizing with ($NaCNBH_3$, the conjugates were purified by size exclusion chromatography on Biogel A5M column. To devise a model system, such produced components were combined with a dot-blotter in which a nitrocellulose membrane($12{\mu}m$ pre size) with immobilized biotin was already located. The analyte (S. thompson cells) was reacted with the both antibody conjugates in a liquid phase, and the complexes formed were captured on the membrane surfaces by applying vacuum in the bottom compartment of the blotter to invoke biotin-streptavidin reaction. Under optimal conditions, the system enabled to identify the analytical concept for bacterial whole cells, and the lower limit of detection was approximately $1{\mu}g/m{\ell}$($10^5-10^6$ cells/m$m{\ell}$). The controlling factors were the concentrations of each antibody conjugate that caused agglutination in the presence of analyte as they increased.