ViroStat, Portland, Me, has introduced three new monoclonal antibodies that are specific to Chlamydophila pneumoniae and do not crossreact with the related bacteria C. trachomatis and C. psittaci. The antibodies function in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and immunofluorescence assays and are candidates for rapid test applications. C. pneumoniae is a gram negative bacterium that infects humans, commonly causing atypical pneumonia, bronchitis, and pharyngitis. It is also implicated in causing coronary artery disease. It is an obligate intracellular pathogen whose resistant elementary body form exists between human and animal hosts. As such, cell culture is required to isolate it. For more information, visit ViroStat.
