Monoclonal antibodies with specificity for fetal erythroid cells
The present invention concerns a monoclonal antibody and corresponding hybridoma cells and antigens suitable for isolating fetal cells from maternal blood. The inventive monoclonal antibody reacts with a surface antigen present on fetal red blood cells including their nucleated precursor cells, but not with surface antigens on adult erythroid cell.
1. A hybridoma cell as deposited under accession number DSM ACC 2666 on Jul. 13, 2004 at the Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen and Zelkulturen GmbH in Braunschweig, Germany.
2. A monoclonal antibody expressed by the hybridoma cell according to claim 1 .
3. A purified cell surface antigen protein obtained and isolated from fetal red blood cells recognized by a monoclonal antibody according to claim 2 .