Anti-M13 antibodies?

[Lawrence P. Casson]

In article <C9vH81.37G at biobase.aau.dk> ptk at biobase.aau.dk (Peter Kristensen) writes:
>
>I have been trying to get hold of some phage M-13 antibodies, but so far
>without much luck. I have contacted DAKO (Denmark), and they informed me that
>they once produced sheep anti-M13, but this product is no longer for sale.
>

Try:   5 Prime -> 3 Prime, Inc.
       5603 Arapahoe
       Boulder, CO 80303 USA
       800-533-5703 (U.S. & Canada)
       FAX: 303-440-0835
       LOCAL: 303-440-3705

They sell cat# 5307-916192 Unconjugated Sheep Antibody (Polyclonal)
          cat# 5307-187156 same as above, biotinylated
          cat# 5307-648923 Biotinylated Donkey Anti-Sheep IgG

In my hands, both antibodies cross react to some extent with non-M13
material in bacterial phage supernatants.  I have been using various
capture reagents to bind phage-antibodies, and detecting bound phage
with these reagents.  I seem to get the least background signal when 
I block the microtiter plates with BSA instead of milk.  TWEEN increases
the background considerably.  It also helps alot if I dilute my phage
supernatants 1/10 in PBS+1%BSA.  I hope this helps.

I am looking for a monoclonal anti-M13 antibody since the reagents above
cross react with Donkey and Goat reagents that I could otherwise use for
my assays.  My initial quick and dirty attempt at making a mouse
monoclonal was a failure due to insufficient purification of the phage.
I might try again with a better purification protocol.  I am told that
CsCl purification removes many but not all contaminants.  Unfortunately,
pillus proteins are among the ones that remain behind.

-Larry