ANTIBODIES AND METHODS FOR THE DETECTION OF CELL DEATH

1 - 70 . (canceled)

71 . An antibody comprising: HCDR1, HCDR2, HCDR3, LCDR1, LCDR2, LCDR3, wherein the HCDR1 comprises amino acids 31-35 of SEQ ID NO:5, the HCDR2 comprises amino acids 50-66 of SEQ ID NO:5, the HCDR3 comprises amino acids 99-110 of SEQ ID NO:5, the LCDR1 comprises amino acids 24-40 of SEQ ID NO:7, the LCDR2 comprises amino acids 56-62 of SEQ ID NO:7, and the LCDR3 comprises amino acids 95-102 of SEQ ID NO:7.

72 . The antibody of claim 71 , wherein the antibody is coupled to a solid support or a detection moiety.

73 . The antibody of claim 72 , wherein the antibody is directly bound to a solid support or a detection moiety.

74 . The antibody of claim 72 , wherein the antibody is indirectly bound to a solid support or a detection moiety.

75 . The antibody of claim 72 , wherein the detection moiety is selected from electrochemiluminescence labels or compounds, chemiluminescent compounds, enzyme labels, fluorophores, chromogenic compounds, radiolabels, catalysts, colorimetric, labeled antibodies, a latex particle, a magnetic particle, a paramagnetic particle, a radioactive element, fluorescent dyes, phosphorescent dyes, dye crystals, gold particles, silver colloidal particles, selenium colloidal particles, metal chelates, coenzymes, electro active groups, oligonucleotides and stable radicals.

76 . The antibody of claim 75 , wherein the detection moiety is a metal chelate, wherein the metal chelate is a ruthenium, an osmium, or a europium metal chelate.

77 . The antibody of claim 72 , wherein the solid support is selected from a bead, a plate, a glass surface, a plastic surface, a metal surface, a polystyrene surface, a nitrocellulose surface, a microparticle and a nanoparticle surface.

78 . The antibody of claim 77 , wherein the solid support is a bead.

79 . A method of producing the antibody of claim 71 , comprising:

immunizing a mammal with an antigen having a C-terminal amino acid sequence of Ala Ser Ser Gly Leu Thr Val Glu Val Asp (SEQ ID NO:1); and

isolating the antibody.

80 . A method of producing the antibody of claim 71 , comprising:

immunizing a mammal with an antigen having a C-terminal amino acid sequence of Ala Ser Ser Gly Leu Thr Val Glu Val Asp (SEQ ID NO:1); and

generating a cell line producing a monoclonal antibody.

81 . A method for detecting a cytokeratin 18 (CK18) protein fragment comprising a C-terminal amino acid sequence of Val Glu Val Asp (SEQ ID NO:2) in a sample, comprising:

a) contacting the sample with a first antibody specific for a C-terminal amino acid sequence Ala Ser Ser Gly Leu Thr Val Glu Val Asp (SEQ ID NO:1) of the CK18 protein fragment, the first antibody comprising the antibody of claim 1 , and a second antibody that specifically binds an epitope that is present in both full-length CK18 and the CK18 protein fragment, and that does not overlap with SEQ ID NO:1, under conditions such that the CK18 protein fragment present in the sample specifically binds to the first antibody and the second antibody, wherein one of the antibodies is bound to a solid support and the other antibody is bound to a detection moiety capable of producing a signal; and

b) detecting the signal from the detection moiety, wherein the signal is positively correlated with the presence of the CK18 protein fragment in the sample.

82 . The method of claim 81 , wherein the first antibody is bound to a solid support and the second antibody is bound to a detection moiety capable of producing a signal.

83 . The method of claim 81 , wherein the first antibody is bound to a detection moiety capable of producing a signal and the second antibody is bound to a solid support.

84 . The method of claim 81 , wherein the first antibody or the second antibody is indirectly bound by at least one intermediate linker.

85 . A method for detecting a cytokeratin 18 (CK18) protein fragment having a C-terminal amino acid sequence of Val Glu Val Asp (SEQ ID NO:2) in a sample, comprising:

a) contacting the sample with a first antibody specific for a C-terminal amino acid sequence Thr Val Glu Val Asp (SEQ ID NO:14) of the CK18 protein fragment, the first antibody comprising the antibody of claim 1 , and a second antibody that specifically binds an epitope that is present in both full-length CK18 and the CK18 protein fragment, and that does not overlap with SEQ ID NO:14, under conditions such that the CK18 protein fragment present in the sample specifically binds to the first antibody and the second antibody, wherein one of the antibodies is bound to a solid support and the other antibody is bound to a detection moiety capable of producing a signal; and

b) detecting the signal from the detection moiety, wherein the signal is positively correlated with the presence of the CK18 protein fragment in the sample.

86 . The method of claim 85 , wherein the first antibody is bound to a solid support and the second antibody is bound to a detection moiety capable of producing a signal.

87 . The method of claim 85 , wherein the first antibody is bound to a detection moiety capable of producing a signal and the second antibody is bound to a solid support.

88 . The method of claim 85 , wherein the first antibody or the second antibody is indirectly bound by at least one intermediate linker.

89 . An assay kit for detecting a cytokeratin 18 (CK18) protein fragment having a C-terminal amino acid sequence of Val Glu Val Asp (SEQ ID NO:2) in a sample, the kit comprising:

(i) a solid support;

(ii) a detection moiety;

(iii) a first antibody comprising the antibody of claim 71 ; and

(iv) a second antibody that specifically binds an epitope that is present in full-length CK18 and the CK18 protein fragment, and that does not overlap with SEQ ID NO:1.

90 . The kit of claim 89 , wherein the wherein the solid support is a bead, and the detection moiety is a metal chelate.