Production and preliminary characterization of monoclonal antibodies highly specific to pork fat protein

- We first reported the production of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) specific to pork fat.
- MAbs did not react to other species meat and fat samples.
- MAbs based indirect ELISA can sufficiently detect 1% pork fat in meat samples.

Meat and food products adulterated with pork fat concern Islamic consumers whose dietary laws prohibit consumption of pork meat. The objectives of this study are to investigate the existence of thermal stable-soluble protein (TSSP) in pork fat tissues and to develop and characterize monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) highly specific to the TSSP in pork fat tissues. The TSSP extracted was used as an immunogen. After cell fusion and cloning, seven monoclonal antibodies (MAbs; PF 2B8-3, 2B8-9, 2B8-20, 2B8-28, 2B8-31, 2B8-32, and 2B8-33) were developed and confirmed to be specific to pork fat protein without cross-reaction to other animal meats and fats in an indirect ELISA and Western blot. The ELISA assay based on MAb PF 2B8-31 can sensitively detect 1% pork fat protein mixed in other animal meats. These results support that the developed MAbs especially PF 2B8-31 can be sufficiently used as a bio-receptor in the development of immunoassay for the easy and rapid detection of pork fat adulteration. In addition, the ELISA based on the MAbs developed could be a useful tool to rapidly detect low levels of pork fat fraudfully adulterated in meat and food products.