| abstract |
S19 mAb, deposited under Accession Number HB-12144 at the ATCC, binds to a carbohydrate epitope of a glycoprotein found distributed over the surface of sperm. The carbohydrate nature of the epitope, its distribution over the entire sperm surface, and the fact that it is epididymal/sperm specific and not naturally found in any of the tissues of the female reproductive tract, make the glycoprotein, SAGA-1, a desirable immunogen as the active agent for a contraceptive vaccine, as well as a test standard for monitoring antibody titer. The antibody provides a diagnostic for the presence of sperm, as well as a topical spermistatic. |