IMMUNOASSAY FOR THE DETECTION OF PROCALCITONIN

Abstract

The present invention relates to an in vitro method for the detection of Procalcitonin or a fragment thereof of at least 20 amino acid residues in length in a biological sample derived from a bodily fluid obtained from a subject, comprising the steps of: (i) contacting said sample with at least two antibodies or functional fragments thereof directed against different epitopes within Procalcitonin, and (ii) qualitatively or quantitatively detecting binding of said at least two antibodies to Procalcitonin or said fragment thereof, wherein binding indicates the presence or concentration of Procalcitonin or said fragment in said sample, wherein at least one antibody or functional fragment thereof is directed against an epitope comprised in the sequence spanning amino acid residues 2 to 52 of Procalcitonin. The invention also pertains to antibodies directed against an N-terminal epitope of Procalcitonin and kits comprising antibodies directed against PCT.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention is in the field of clinical diagnostics. Particularly the present invention relates to the determination of the level of Procalcitonin (PCT) in a sample derived from a bodily fluid of a subject.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Procalcitonin (PCT) is known as a biomarker, that reflects the presence and severity of local and systemic bacterial infections, i.e. sepsis (Assicot et al., Lancet 1993; 341:515-8; Muller et al., Crit Care Med 2000; 28:977-83; Harbarth et al., Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2001; 164:396-402; Becker et al., Crit Care Med 2008; 36:941-52; Becker et al, J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2004; 89:1512-25; Nobre et al., Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2008; 177:498-505; Christ-Crain et al., Lancet 2004; 363:600-7; Stolz et al., Chest 2007; 131:9-19; Christ-Crain et al, Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2006; 174:84-93; Briel et al., Arch Intern Med 2008; 168:2000-7; discussion 7-8).

[0003] Antigen-specific antibodies are a key tool for the development of immunoassays. Several antibodies against PCT-derived peptides have been described, which have been used in immunoassays to detect PCT, but only few have been tested for their use in sandwich immunoassays to detect native PCT (Table 1). Sandwich immunoassays employing antibodies against the calcitonin- and katacalcin moieties of PCT have been developed to measure PCT in human samples on a routine basis.

[0004] For conditions associated with elevated PCT concentrations (excluding medullary thyroid carcinoma), especially bacterial infections and sepsis, it is believed that not only full-length PCT (ca. 13 kDa), but also PCT-derived fragments are present in the blood circulation of patients. Particularly, proteolytic cleavage just upstream from the calcitonin moiety of PCT has been discussed to occur (Muller, et al. Crit Care Med 2000; 28:977-83; Whang et al., J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1998; 83:3296-301), which would lead to two fragments (both ca. 6-7 kDa). However, experimental evidence on this is sparse: Circulating PCT has been isolated from sepsis patients by affinity chromatography using an antibody directed against the calcitonin moiety of PCT, and it has been concluded that PCT3-116 is the major circulating PCT species (Weglohner et al., Peptides 2001; 22:2099-103.). However, several selection steps were performed in this analysis, i.e. only peptides with a calcitonin-containing epitope were purified, and not all relevant fractions from the subsequent reversed-phase HPLC were analyzed Immunoassays for PCT also have not been suitable to address the question of PCT-fragmentation, because either competitive assays involving a single antibody were used (Whang, et al. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1998; 83:3296-301), or sandwich immunoassays involving two antibodies with epitopes located closely to each other in the C-terminal half of PCT and not covering a broad moiety of PCT were used (Morgenthaler et al., Clin Chem 2002; 48:788-90).

[0005] Antibodies against the very N-terminus of PCT have been used in conjunction with an antibody against the katacalcin moiety of PCT in a sandwich assay to detect in samples of septic patients PCT species with an intact N-terminus (DE 10 2007 009 751). N-terminally intact PCT species were found to have different in vivo kinetics than PCT immunoreactivity which was detected with a sandwich immunoassay employing antibodies against the calcitonin- and katacalcin moieties of PCT. Additionally, these N-terminally intact PCT species were found to make up only ca. 10-20% of PCT immunoreactivity which was detected with a sandwich immunoassay employing antibodies against the calcitonin- and katacalcin moieties of PCT. It is not clear, however, at which site(s) between the very N-terminus of PCT and the calcitonin moiety proteolytic cleavage(s) occur(s), which lead(s) to the different concentrations of analytes observed. While it can be assumed that PCT1-116 is cleaved N-terminally by the action of DPP IV leading to PCT3-116 (Weglohner, et al. Peptides 2001; 22:2099-103; Wrenger et al., FEBS Lett 2000; 466:155-9), it is unclear, whether additionally or alternatively PCT1-116 can be cleaved at another site in the middle of the molecule.

[0006] Thus, it is unclear, whether an antibody having an epitope roughly upstream from the calcitonin moiety (precisely: upstream from position 53) of PCT, which does not include the very N-terminus of PCT (i.e. position 1 of PCT1-116), in conjunction with an antibody having another epitope, for example an epitope downstream from position 53 (as for instance an epitope within the calcitonin- or katacalcin moiety of PCT), can be used in a sandwich immunoassay to detect native PCT in a patient sample comparably as a sandwich immunoassay employing antibodies having an epitope within the calcitonin moiety of PCT and an antibody with an epitope downstream of that, as for instance an antibody with an epitope within the katacalcin moiety of PCT. Such sandwich immunoassay has been recently described using recombinant PCT as analyte, but recovery of native PCT from patient samples has not been evaluated, and the potential issue of PCT fragmentation has not even been discussed our speculated about (Kramer et al., Anal Bioanal Chem 2008; 392:727-36).

[0007] The present invention is partially based on the surprising finding of the inventors that antibodies directed against epitopes contained in amino acid positions 2-52 of Procalcitonin are suitable for measuring PCT using sandwich immunoassays, since PCT is not cleaved in the middle of the molecule.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention provides for an improved assay for the determination of PCT levels in samples of bodily fluids based on a novel combination of antibodies directed to PCT.

[0009] Thus, the present invention relates to an in vitro method for the detection of Procalcitonin or a fragment thereof of at least 20 amino acid residues in length in a biological sample derived from a bodily fluid obtained from a subject, comprising the steps of:

[0010] a. contacting said sample with at least two antibodies or functional fragments thereof directed against different epitopes within Procalcitonin,

[0011] b. qualitatively or quantitatively detecting binding of said at least two antibodies to Procalcitonin or said fragment thereof, wherein binding indicates the presence or concentration of Procalcitonin or said fragment in said sample,

[0012] wherein at least one antibody or functional fragment thereof is directed against an epitope comprised in the sequence spanning amino acid residues 2 to 52 of Procalcitonin.

[0013] In the context of the present invention, the antibody or functional fragment thereof, which is directed against an epitope comprised in the sequence spanning amino acid residues 2 to 52 of Procalcitonin, is a polyclonal or a monoclonal antibody.

[0014] It is preferred in the context of the present invention that the antibody or functional fragment thereof, which is directed against an epitope comprised in the sequence spanning amino acid residues 2 to 52 of Procalcitonin, is a monoclonal antibody.

[0015] Preferably the other antibody or functional fragment thereof is directed against an epitope comprised in the sequence spanning amino acid residues 53 to 116 of Procalcitonin.

[0016] The at least two antibodies employed in the methods of the present invention preferably do not exhibit significant (that is >10%) cross-reactivities to the epitopes of the respective other antibody or antibodies. An antibody directed against an epitope in the sequence spanning amino acid residues 2 to 52 of Procalcitonin is specific for this epitope and exhibits thus no significant cross-reactivity with an epitope in the sequence spanning amino acid residues 53 to 116 of Procalcitonin and vice versa. Hence, the antibodies of the present invention are specific for their epitope in PCT and show no significant cross-reactivity with other epitopes, particularly non-overlapping epitopes in this peptide.

[0017] Preferably herein, the epitope comprised in the sequence spanning amino acid residues 2 to 52 of Procalcitonin is an epitope comprised in the sequence spanning amino acid residues 16 to 40 of Procalcitonin. More preferably, the epitope comprised in the sequence spanning amino acid residues 16 to 40 of Procalcitonin is selected from a group consisting of an epitope comprised in the sequence spanning amino acid residues 21 to 40 of Procalcitonin, an epitope comprised in the sequence spanning amino acid residues 16 to 35 of Procalcitonin and an epitope comprised in the sequence spanning amino acid residues 25 to 37 of Procalcitonin.

[0018] The epitope comprised in the sequence spanning amino acid residues 53 to 116 of Procalcitonin is preferably an epitope comprised in the sequence spanning amino acid residues 96 to 116 of Procalcitonin or an epitope comprised in the sequence spanning amino acid residues 60 to 91 of Procalcitonin.

[0019] In a particular embodiment of the method of the present invention, the concentration of Procalcitonin or a fragment thereof in the sample is quantified.

[0020] Preferably, the subject according to the present invention is a human or non-human animal, preferably a mammal, most preferably the subject is a human.

[0021] In the context of the present invention, the antibody or functional fragment thereof, which is directed against an epitope comprised in the sequence spanning amino acid residues 53 to 116 of Procalcitonin, is a polyclonal or a monoclonal antibody. Preferably, the antibody or functional fragment thereof, which is directed against an epitope comprised in the sequence spanning amino acid residues 53 to 116 of Procalcitonin, is a monoclonal antibody.

[0022] The antibody or functional fragment thereof, which is directed against an epitope comprised in the sequence spanning amino acid residues 2 to 52 of Procalcitonin, is preferably an IgG or is derived from IgG. Similarly, the antibody or functional fragment thereof, which is directed against an epitope comprised in the sequence spanning amino acid residues 53 to 116 of Procalcitonin, is preferably an IgG or is derived from IgG.

[0023] The bodily fluid in the context of the method of the present invention is preferably selected from the group of blood, serum, plasma, cerebrospinal fluid, urine, saliva, sputum, and pleural effusions.

[0024] In a preferred embodiment of the method of the present invention, at least one of the at least two antibodies or functional fragments thereof is immobilized on a solid surface. More preferably, one of the at least two antibodies or functional fragments thereof is immobilized on a solid surface. It is preferred, that at least one of the other antibody or antibodies is labelled, preferably by covalent attachment of a chemiluminescent or fluorescent dye.

[0025] In a particular embodiment of the method, the antibody or functional fragment thereof that is directed against an epitope comprised in the sequence spanning amino acid residues 2 to 52 of Procalcitonin is immobilized on a solid surface. In another particular embodiment, the antibody or functional fragment thereof that is directed against an epitope comprised in the sequence spanning amino acid residues 53 to 116 of Procalcitonin is immobilized on a solid surface.

[0026] The present invention also pertains to an antibody or a functional fragment thereof directed against an epitope comprised in the sequence spanning amino acid residues 16 to 40 of Procalcitonin.

[0027] Preferably, the antibody or functional fragment thereof is directed against an epitope is selected from a group consisting of an epitope comprised in the sequence spanning amino acid residues 21 to 40 of Procalcitonin, an epitope comprised in the sequence spanning amino acid residues 16 to 35 of Procalcitonin and an epitope comprised in the sequence spanning amino acid residues 25 to 37 of Procalcitonin. It is preferred that the antibody is monoclonal.

[0028] The antibody of the present invention may preferably be produced by genetic immunization. Briefly, monoclonal antibodies against PCT can be generated by genetic immunization, e.g. principally following the procedure set out in Costagliola et al., J Immunol 1998; 160:1458-65. The PCT coding sequence can be cloned by standard procedures into a vector. Animal, e.g. mice, can then be injected with said vector. Injections may be repeated after e.g. 3 and 6 weeks. The animals are sacrificed e.g. after 18 weeks. Spleen cells of the sacrificed animals are then fused with SP2/0 myeloma cells to generate hybridoma cell lines which are then screened for their ability to secrete antibodies that would bind to immobilized recombinant human PCT.

[0029] The monoclonal antibody directed against an epitope comprised in the sequence spanning amino acid residues 16 to 40 of Procalcitonin according to the present invention may preferably be produced by a hybridoma cell line that is deposited at the DSMZ under accession number DSM ACC2993 or DSM ACC2996 or DSM ACC2997. These cell lines produce particular monoclonal antibodies directed against an epitope comprised in the sequence spanning amino acid residues 16 to 40 of Procalcitonin according to the invention. The hybridoma cell line producing monoclonal antibody FX7A7 has been deposited at the Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen GmbH (DSMZ) on Jun. 4, 2009 under accession number DSM ACC2997. The hybridoma cell line producing monoclonal antibody FW5H6 has been deposited at the Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen GmbH (DSMZ) on Jun. 4, 2009 under accession number DSM ACC2996. The hybridoma cell line producing monoclonal antibody FX1G5 has been deposited at the Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen GmbH (DSMZ) on Apr. 29, 2009 under accession number DSM ACC2993. All hybridoma cell lines have been produced according to the principles described herein above and in more detail in Example 1.

[0030] In a further aspect, the present invention relates to a kit at least comprising

[0031] a. a first antibody or a functional fragment thereof directed against an epitope comprised in the sequence spanning amino acid residues 2 to 52 of Procalcitonin, and

[0032] b. a second antibody or a functional fragment thereof directed against an epitope comprised in the sequence spanning amino acid residues 53 to 116 of Procalcitonin.

[0033] Preferably, the first antibody of the kit is directed against an epitope comprised in the sequence spanning amino acid residues 16 to 40 of Procalcitonin, preferably against an epitope that is selected from a group consisting of an epitope comprised in the sequence spanning amino acid residues 21 to 40 of Procalcitonin, an epitope comprised in the sequence spanning amino acid residues 16 to 35 of Procalcitonin and an epitope comprised in the sequence spanning amino acid residues 25 to 37 of Procalcitonin.

[0034] It is preferred that the first antibody is a monoclonal antibody. It is also preferred that the second antibody is a monoclonal antibody.

[0035] In a preferred embodiment of the kit, the second antibody is directed against an epitope comprised in the sequence spanning amino acid residues 60 to 91 of Procalcitonin or directed against an epitope comprised in the sequence spanning amino acid residues 96 to 116 of Procalcitonin.

[0036] The invention further relates to the use of a kit according to the present invention in a sandwich immunoassay format for the detection and or quantification of Procalcitonin or a fragment thereof in a biological sample from a bodily fluid. Such a fragment at least comprises a sequence spanning the two epitopes against which the two antibodies are directed.

[0037] Furthermore, the present invention relates to the use of the method according to the present invention, the antibody according to the present invention or the kit according to the present invention for the determination of the presence or absence of Procalcitonin or a fragment thereof or for the quantification of Procalcitonin or a fragment thereof in a biological sample from a bodily fluid.

[0038] Preferably, the method, antibody and kit are used for the diagnosis, prognosis, risk stratification, therapy monitoring, therapy guidance, or stratification for application of therapeutic measures of a disease or condition associated with elevated procalcitonin levels.

[0039] The disease or condition is preferably selected from the group of local bacterial infections (particularly in the airways and the lung), sepsis, severe sepsis, septic shock. The disease or condition may also be selected from the group of non-infectious diseases including but not restricted to cardiovascular diseases (acute coronary syndrome, heart failure, coronary artery disease, atherosclerosis, stroke), cancer, diabetes, chronic gastrointestinal diseases, chronic renal diseases, hypertension, orthopaedic diseases including osteoporosis, and neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease. All diseases or conditions mentioned above might or might not be associated with one or more co-morbidities.

[0040] The antibodies of the present invention have preferably affinities for their respective epitopes in the range of from 10.sup.8 to 10.sup.11 M.sup.-1, preferably above 10.sup.9M.sup.-1.

[0041] The term "antibody" generally comprises monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies and binding fragments thereof, in particular Fc-fragments as well as so called "single-chain-antibodies" (Bird R. E. et al. (1988) Science 242:423-6), chimeric, humanized, in particular CDR-grafted antibodies, and dia or tetrabodies (Holliger P. et al. (1993) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 90:6444-8). Also comprised are immunoglobulin like proteins that are selected through techniques including, for example, phage display to specifically bind to the molecule of interest contained in a sample. In this context the term "specific binding" refers to antibodies raised against the molecule of interest or a fragment thereof. An antibody is considered to be specific, if its affinity towards the molecule of interest or the aforementioned fragment thereof is at least preferably 50-fold higher, more preferably 100-fold higher, most preferably at least 1000-fold higher than towards other molecules comprised in a sample containing the molecule of interest. It is well known in the art how to make antibodies and to select antibodies with a given specificity. As stated herein above, monoclonal antibodies are preferred.

[0042] The preferred assays and detection methods according to the present invention comprise immunoassays in various formats such as for instance radioimmunoassay (RIA), chemiluminescence- and fluorescence-immunoassays, Enzyme-linked immunoassays (ELISA), Luminex-based bead arrays, protein microarray assays, and rapid test formats such as for instance immunochromatographic strip tests.

[0043] The assays can be homogenous or heterogeneous assays, competitive and non-competitive sandwich assays. In a particularly preferred embodiment employing the two antibodies according to the present invention, the assay is in the form of a sandwich assay, which is a non-competitive immunoassay, wherein PCT or a fragment thereof to be detected and/or quantified is bound to the first antibody and to the second antibody. The first antibody may be bound to a solid phase, e.g. a bead, a surface of a well or other container, a chip or a strip, and the second antibody is an antibody which is labeled, e.g. with a dye, with a radioisotope, or a reactive or catalytically active moiety. The amount of labeled antibody bound to the analyte is then measured by an appropriate method. The general composition and procedures involved with "sandwich assays" are well-established and known to the skilled person. (The Immunoassay Handbook, Ed. David Wild, Elsevier LTD, Oxford; 3rd ed. (May 2005), ISBN-13: 978-0080445267; Hultschig C et al., Curr Opin Chem Biol. 2006 February; 10(1):4-10. PMID: 16376134), incorporated herein by reference).

[0044] In a particularly preferred embodiment the assay comprises the two antibodies according to the present invention which are both present as dispersions in a liquid reaction mixture, wherein a first labeling component is attached to the first antibody, wherein said first labeling component is part of a labeling system based on fluorescence- or chemiluminescence-quenching or amplification, and a second labeling component of said marking system is attached to the second antibody, so that upon binding of both antibodies to the analyte a measurable signal is generated that allows for the detection of the formed sandwich complexes in the solution comprising the sample.

[0045] Even more preferred, said labeling system comprises rare earth cryptates or rare earth chelates in combination with a fluorescence dye or chemiluminescence dye, in particular a dye of the cyanine type.

[0046] In the context of the present invention, fluorescence based assays comprise the use of dyes, which may for instance be selected from the group comprising FAM (5- or 6-carboxyfluorescein), VIC, NED, Fluorescein, Fluoresceinisothiocyanate (FITC), IRD-700/800, Cyanine dyes, auch as CY3, CY5, CY3.5, CY5.5, Cy7, Xanthen, 6-Carboxy-2',4',7',4,7-hexachlorofluorescein (HEX), TET, 6-Carboxy-4',5'-dichloro-2',7'-dimethodyfluorescein (JOE), N,N,N',N'-Tetramethyl-6-carboxyrhodamine (TAMRA), 6-Carboxy-X-rhodamine (ROX), 5-Carboxyrhodamine-6G (R6G5), 6-carboxyrhodamine-6G (RG6), Rhodamine, Rhodamine Green, Rhodamine Red, Rhodamine 110, BODIPY dyes, such as BODIPY TMR, Oregon Green, Coumarins such as Umbelliferone, Benzimides, such as Hoechst 33258; Phenanthridines, such as Texas Red, Yakima Yellow, Alexa Fluor, PET, Ethidiumbromide, Acridinium dyes, Carbazol dyes, Phenoxazine dyes, Porphyrine dyes, Polymethin dyes, and the like.

[0047] In the context of the present invention, chemiluminescence based assays comprise the use of dyes, based on the physical principles described for chemiluminescent materials in Kirk-Othmer, Encyclopedia of chemical technology, 4.sup.th ed., executive editor, J. I. Kroschwitz; editor, M. Howe-Grant, John Wiley & Sons, 1993, vol. 15, p. 518-562, incorporated herein by reference, including citations on pages 551-562. Preferred chemiluminescent dyes are acridiniumesters.

[0048] Finally, the invention also relates to the hybridoma cell lines deposited at the DSMZ under accession number DSM ACC2993, DSM ACC2996 and DSM ACC2997. These hybridoma cell lines produce the preferred antibodies of the present invention directed against the N-terminal epitopes particularly 21 to 40 and 25 to 37 of PCT and have been created as set out in Example 1.

Sequences

TABLE-US-00001

[0049] SEQ ID NO: 1 (amino acid sequence of PCT): 1 APFRSALESS PADPATLSED EARLLLAALV QDYVQMKASE LEQEQEREGS 51 SLDSPRSKRC GNLSTCMLGT YTQDFNKFHT FPQTAIGVGA PGKKRDMSSD 101 LERDHRPHVS MPQNAN

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0050] FIG. 1: Schematic representation of assays (C, D and E) used in comparison to existing assays (A and B: B R A H M S PCT LIA and B R A H M S PCT sensitive LIA, respectively). PCT with its calcitonin and katacalcin moieties is depicted, and antibodies with their epitopes are shown. A and B: One antibody is directed against the calcitonin moiety and the other antibody is directed against the katacalcin moiety of PCT; C: Assay, wherein one antibody is directed against an epitope in the sequence spanning amino acid residues 21-40 of PCT and the other antibody is directed against the katacalcin moiety of PCT. D, E: Assay, wherein one antibody is directed against an epitope in the sequence spanning amino acid residues 21-40 of PCT and the other antibody is directed against the calcitonin moiety of PCT.

[0051] FIG. 2: PCT immunoreactivity profiles of size-fractionated PCT containing sera. Fractions were measured in Assays A (designation as in FIG. 1), and measured values were related to the maximal measured value for each assay within each fractionation run. Shown are the means+standard error (SEM).

[0052] FIG. 3: PCT immunoreactivity profiles of size-fractionated PCT containing sera. Fractions were measured in Assays C and D (Panels A and B, respectively; designations as in FIG. 1), and measured values were related to the maximal measured value for each assay within each fractionation run. Shown are the means+standard error (SEM).

[0053] FIG. 4: Dose response curves for three PCT sandwich immunoassays. The assays were incubated for 30 minutes (panel A) or 2 hours (panel B). PCT LIA and PCT LIA sens. correspond to B R A H M S PCT LIA and B R A H M S PCT sensitive LIA, respectively (designated A and B in FIG. 1). FX1G5/anti-Calc. represents assay Assay E.

[0054] FIG. 5: Amino acid sequence of Procalcitonin (PCT) (SEQ ID NO:1)

EXAMPLES

Example 1

[0055] Material and Methods

[0056] A. Development of Monoclonal Antibodies

[0057] Monoclonal antibodies against PCT were generated by genetic immunization following principally a described procedure (Costagliola et al., J Immunol 1998; 160:1458-65). In brief, the PCT coding sequence was cloned by standard procedures in vector pcDNAIII (Invitrogen, Karlsruhe, Germany). BALB/c mice were injected in the anterior tibialis muscle on day 0 with 100 mg of pcDNAIII-PCT in 25% sucrose. Injections were repeated 3 and 6 wk thereafter. Blood samples were obtained from retro-ocular capillaries 8 and 11 wk after the initial immunization and at sacrifice, which was after 18 wk, when the spleens and thyroids were also removed. Spleen cells were fused with SP2/0 myeloma cells to generate hybridoma cell lines. Cell lines were screened for their ability to secrete antibodies that would bind to immobilized recombinant human PCT (InVivo GmbH, Hennigsdorf, Germany). With this approach, cell lines secreting monoclonal antibodies FX7A7 (produced by the hybridoma cell line deposited on Jun. 4, 2009 at the DSMZ under accession number DSM ACC2997), FW5H6 (produced by the hybridoma cell line deposited on Jun. 4, 2009 at the DSMZ under accession number DSM ACC2996) and FX1G5 (produced by the hybridoma cell line deposited on Apr. 29, 2009 at the DSMZ under accession number DSM ACC2993) were generated.

[0058] B. Epitope Mapping

[0059] The mapping of epitopes within PCT of the three monoclonal antibodies FX7A7, FW5H6 and FX1G5 was done on peptide microarrays by standard procedures (JPT GmbH, Berlin, Germany). The peptide microarray was composed of 74 peptides displayed as overlapping peptide scans (format 13/11: 53 peptides; format 20/15: 21 peptides) and thus covering the entire PCT sequence on a glass surface. The microarrays were pre-treated with blocking buffer (Pierce, Superblock; 2 h at room temperature) followed by washings with TBS buffer pH 8 and water (3 times each). Each pre-treated microarray was scanned using Axon Genepix 4000B Scanner for background control (no signals could be detected). Individual microarrays were incubated with antibodies in assay buffer (final concentration 60 .mu.g/mL in Pierce Superblock buffer; total assay volume 350 .mu.L, incubation time 3 h). Microarrays were washed with TBS buffer pH 8 followed by an incubation with fluorescence labelled secondary antibody (anti-mouse-Dylight-647; Pierce 31015, 1 .mu.g/mL, incubation time 45 min). Control incubation with fluorescence labelled secondary antibody (anti-mouse-Dylight-647; Pierce 31015, 1 .mu.g/mL, incubation time 45 min) were performed in parallel to the described experiment. Microarrays were scanned using Axon Genepix 4000B Scanner with appropriate wavelength settings. SPOT recognition software package ArrayPro was used for data analysis. Mean of signal intensities (corrected for local background) from 3 identical subarrays on each microarray image were used for data evaluation.

[0060] C. Immunoassays

[0061] Sandwich immunoassays in the chemiluminesce-/coated tube format were set up as follows: Assay A: A commercially available sandwich assay for PCT was used (BRAHMS PCT LIA sensitive), which uses one antibody directed against the katacalcin moiety of PCT as solid phase, and one antibody directed against the calcitonin moiety of PCT as labeled antibody (BRAHMS AG, Hennigsdorf, Germany). Recombinant PCT in various concentrations is used as standards. For the comparison with Assay E (see below), incubation conditions were adapted to those described for Assay E; i.e. 50 .mu.l sample and 200 .mu.l labeled antibody solution were used and incubated in a one step reaction in test tubes for 30 minutes or 2 hours.

[0062] Assay B:

[0063] A commercially available sandwich assay for PCT was used (BRAHMS PCT LIA), which uses one antibody directed against the katacalcin moiety of PCT as solid phase, and one monoclonal antibody directed against the calcitonin moiety of PCT as labeled antibody (BRAHMS AG, Hennigsdorf, Germany). Recombinant PCT in various concentrations is used as standards. For the comparison with Assay E (see below), incubation conditions were adapted to those described for Assay E; i.e. 50 .mu.l sample and 200 .mu.l labeled antibody solution were used and incubated in a one step reaction in test tubes for 30 minutes or 2 hours.

[0064] For the other assays, assay components were generated as follows:

[0065] Labeling of Antibodies

[0066] Labeling of antibody FX1G5 was done by standard procedures (EP 1488209, EP 1738178): The concentration of the purified antibody was adjusted to 1 g/L, and the antibody was labeled by incubation with the chemiluminescent label MACN-Acridinium-NHS-Ester (1 g/L; InVent GmbH, Hennigsdorf, Germany) in a 1:5 molar ratio for 20 min at room temperature. The reaction was stopped by addition of 1/10 volume of 50 mmol/L glycine for 10 min at room temperature. Labeled antibody was separated from free label by size-exclusion chromatography on a NAP-5 column (GE Healthcare, Freiburg, Germany) and a Bio-Sil.RTM. SEC-400-5 HPLC column (BIO-RAD).

[0067] Coating of Antibodies

[0068] Coating of a monoclonal antibody directed against the calcitonin moiety of PCT (BRAHMS AG, Hennigsdorf, Germany) was done by standard procedures (EP 1488209, EP 1738178): Polystyrene startubes (Greiner) were coated with purified antibody (per tube, 2 .mu.g of antibody in 300 .mu.L of 10 mmol/L Tris, 100 mmol/L NaCl, pH 7.8) overnight at 22.degree. C. Tubes were then blocked with 10 mmol/L sodium phosphate (pH 6.5) containing 30 g/L Karion FP (Merck), 5 g/L bovine serum albumin protease free (Sigma) and lyophilized

[0069] With these components the following assays were set up:

[0070] Assay C:

[0071] Tubes coated with an anti-katacalcin antibody and standards (recombinant PCT) were taken from the assay B.R.A.H.M.S PCT LIA sensitive (B.R.A.H.M.S AG, Hennigsdorf, Germany). MACN labeled antibody FX1G5 was used as labeled antibody. The assay buffer was 300 mmol/L potassium phosphate, pH 7.0, 100 mmol/L NaCl, 10 mmol/L EDTA, 0.9 g/L sodium azide, 5 g/L bovine serum albumin protease free (Sigma), 1 g/L nonspecfic bovine IgG, 1 g/L nonspecific sheep IgG, 1 g/L nonspecific mouse IgG and contained 2.times.10.sup.6 relative light units (RLU) of MACN-labeled antibody per 200 .mu.l. 100 .mu.l standards or samples and 200 .mu.l assay buffer containing the MACN-labeled antibody were pipetted in the coated tubes. Tubes were incubated 2 hours at 22.degree. C. under agitation. Then, the tubes were washed 5 times with 1 mL of B.R.A.H.M.S washing solution (B.R.A.H.M.S AG, Hennigsdorf, Germany) and bound chemiluminescence was measured for 1 s per tube with a LB952T luminometer (Berthold). Concentrations of samples were calculated using the Software MultiCalc (Spline Fit).

[0072] Assay D:

[0073] Tubes coated with an anti-calcitonin antibody were used. Standards (recombinant PCT) were taken from the assay BRAHMS PCT LIA sensitive (BRAHMS AG, Hennigsdorf, Germany) MACN labeled antibody FX1G5 was used as labeled antibody. The assay buffer was 300 mmol/L potassium phosphate, pH 7.0, 100 mmol/L NaCl, 10 mmol/L EDTA, 0.9 g/L sodium azide, 5 g/L bovine serum albumin protease free (Sigma), 1 g/L nonspecfic bovine IgG, 1 g/L nonspecific sheep IgG, 1 g/L nonspecific mouse IgG and contained 2.times.10.sup.6 relative light units (RLU) of MACN-labeled antibody per 200 .mu.l. 100 .mu.l standards or samples and 200 .mu.l assay buffer containing the MACN-labeled antibody were pipetted in the coated tubes. Tubes were incubated 2 hours at 22.degree. C. under agitation. Then, the tubes were washed 5 times with 1 mL of B.R.A.H.M.S washing solution (B.R.A.H.M.S AG, Hennigsdorf, Germany) and bound chemiluminescence was measured for 1 s per tube with a LB952T luminometer (Berthold). Concentrations of samples were calculated using the Software MultiCalc (Spline Fit).

[0074] Assay E:

[0075] Tubes coated with FX1G5 antibody were used. Standards (recombinant PCT) and labeled polyclonal anti-Calcitonin antibody were taken from the assay BRAHMS PCT LIA sensitive (BRAHMS AG, Hennigsdorf, Germany) 50 .mu.l standards or samples and 200 .mu.l assay buffer containing the MACN-labeled antibody were pipetted in the coated tubes. Tubes were incubated for either 30 minutes or 2 hours at 22.degree. C. under agitation. Then, the tubes were washed 5 times with 1 mL of B.R.A.H.M.S washing solution (B.R.A.H.M.S AG, Hennigsdorf, Germany) and bound chemiluminescence was measured for 1 s per tube with a LB952T luminometer (Berthold).

[0076] D. Size Exclusion Chromatography

[0077] Plasma samples from nine patients with elevated PCT concentrations (including patients with sepsis) were fractionated using a Bio-Sil.RTM. SEC-125-5 HPLC column (BIO-RAD) HPLC column. The sample volume was 100 The running buffer was PBS pH 7.4. The flow rate was 0.8 mL/min 0.4 mL fractions were collected measured in assays A, C, D. The following peptides were used as calibrators: recombinant PCT (MW=ca. 13 kDa; InVivo GmbH, Hennigsdorf, Germany), preproADM 45-92 (Sequence ELRMSS SYPTGLADVK AGPAQTLIRP QDMKGASRSP EDSSPDAARI RV; MW=5.1 kDa; JPT GmbH, Berlin, Germany), Vitamin B12 (MW 1.3 kDa). Recombinant PCT and preproADM 45-92 were resolved in standard matrix obtained from the assays BRAHMS PCT LIA sensitive and BRAHMS MR-proADM LIA (BRAHMS AG, Hennigsdorf, Germany), and their elution profile of the size fractionation HPLC was determined using these assays. Vitamin B12 was diluted in running buffer and subjected to chromatography; absorption at 280 nm was recorded.

[0078] E. Measurement of Samples

[0079] Thirty serum samples of patients with local bacterial infections, sepsis, septic shock were measured in assays A, C, D.

[0080] Results

[0081] Monoclonal Antibodies

[0082] Three mouse monoclonal antibodies were generated by genetic immunization employing the entire PCT coding sequence. The epitope mapping revealed similar, albeit not identical results for all three antibodies (Table 2). Antibodies FW5H6 and FX7A7 showed maximal binding to peptide EARLLLAALVQDYVQMKASE (pos. 21-40 within PCT), and for antibody FX1G5 maximum binding was observed on a peptide derived from the previous one, i.e. LLAALVQDYVQMK (pos. 25-37). Outside these regions, no other significant binding sites within the PCT sequence were identified for the three antibodies. The immunization method used here is only one example. Other methods are well known, which could be applied alternatively to generate antibodies against an epitope in the described regions, and more generally upstream from position 53, for instance chemically synthesized peptides conjugated to a carrier protein could be used as antigen.

[0083] Size Exclusion Chromatography

[0084] The apparent molecular weight of native PCT and the detectability with various sandwich immunoassays was assessed by fractionation of serum samples from patients with elevated native PCT concentrations (including sepsis patients) using size exclusion HPLC. Essentially the same immunoreactivity profile was observed, whether fractions were measured with assay A, C or D (FIG. 1): The elution time of native PCT was indistinguishable from that of recombinant PCT (13 kDa) (FIGS. 2 and 3). Virtually no PCT immunoreactivity corresponding to a molecular weight smaller than 13 kDa was detected by any of the three assays. Most notably, no PCT immunoreactivity corresponding to a molecular weight of ca. 6 kDa was detected by Assay A; this would have been expected, if the assumptions in the state of art were correct, that PCT can be split just upstream from the calcitonin moiety of PCT. These results demonstrate that, opposed to speculations in the state of the art, in patients with elevated PCT concentrations (excluding medullary thyroid carcinoma) PCT is not detectably cleaved in the middle of the molecule, and that sandwich immunoassays of the A, C or D-type detect the same antigen.

[0085] Measurement of Samples

[0086] Thirty serum samples of patients with local bacterial infections, sepsis, septic shock were measured in assays A, C, D. The Spearman correlation coefficients came out as follows: Assay A vs. C: r=0.9893; Assay A vs. D: r=0.9844. These ideal correlation coefficients derived from the measurement of a significant number of samples from patients having infections at various degrees of severity clearly confirm the results obtained by size exclusion chromatography so that one has to conclude generally that PCT, when elevated over normal (excluding medullary thyroid carcinoma), is not cleaved in the middle of the molecule.

[0087] Assay Characteristics

[0088] The use of one of the antibodies described in the present invention, FX1G5 having an epitope corresponding to positions 25-37 of PCT, in a sandwich assay employing an anti-Calcitonin antibody as second antibody (Assay E), was analyzed in comparison to state-of-art PCT assays, which utilize the same detection technology (coated tube/chemiluminescence label); i.e. BRAHMS PCT LIA sensitive (Assay A) and BRAHMS PCT LIA (Assay B). Surprisingly, Assay E exhibited considerably more dynamic dose-response-curves than both established assays, independent from the incubation time (FIG. 4).

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 1 Described anti-PCT antibodies and their use in immunoassays Immunogen Epitope (numbers refer (numbers refer tested in tested to amino to amino sandwich with acid positions acid positions immuno- native Name Source in PCT 1-116) in PCT 1-116) assay PCT Reference anti- Sheep Calcitonin GTYTQDFNKFH; yes yes (Morgenthaler, Calcitonin 69-79 et al. Clin Chem 2002;48:788- 90) anti- mouse Katacalcin ERDHRPHVSM; yes yes (Morgenthaler, katacalcin 102-111 et al. Clin (QN05) Chem 2002;48:788- 90) PROC1 rat FRSALESSPADPATL n.d. yes no (Kramer, et al. 3G3 SEDE; 3-20 Anal Bioanal Chem 2008;392:727- 36) PROC4 rat SDLERDHRPHV; 99- n.d. yes no (Kramer, et al. 6C6 etc 109 Anal Bioanal Chem 2008;392:727- 36) R2B7 rabbit Amino-ProCT; n.d. no yes (Whang, et al. J antiserum 1-57 Clin Endocrinol Metab 1998;83:3296- 301) 295/3H12 mouse APFRLSALESC; n.d. other than N- yes yes DE 10 2007 etc. 1-9 terminal Alanin 009 751 being required 98-47/44 mouse DSPRSKRCGNLS; n.d. yes yes US 6451311 53-64 98-31/04 mouse VGAPGKKRDMSS; n.d. yes yes US 6451311 88-99 CT08 mouse Calcitonin TYTQDFN; 70- yes yes (Assicot, et al. 76 Lancet 1993;341:515- 8; Ghillani et al, Cancer Res 1989;49:6845- 51) KC01 mouse Katacalcin DMSSDLERDHR; yes yes (Assicot, et al. 96-106 Lancet 1993;341:515- 8; Ghillani, et al. Cancer Res 1989;49:6845- 51)

TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 2 Epitope mapping results: Observed binding signals for the three antibodies to the shown peptides representing subsequences of the entire PCT sequence were related to the maximum binding obtained per antibody (B/Bmax). pep- tide # sequence FX1G5 FW5H6 FX7A7 1 APFRSALESSPAD 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 2 FRSALESSPADPA 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 3 SALESSPADPATL 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 4 LESSPADPATLSE 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 5 SSPADPATLSEDE 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 6 PADPATLSEDEAR 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 7 DPATLSEDEARLL 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 8 ATLSEDEARLLLA 0.0% 0.1% 0.0% 9 LSEDEARLLLAAL 3.0% 0.0% 0.0% 10 EDEARLLLAALVQ 0.3% 0.0% 0.0% 11 EARLLLAALVQDY 1.7% 0.0% 0.0% 12 RLLLAALVQDYVQ 25.0% 57.3% 0.2% 13 LLAALVQDYVQMK 100.0% 59.5% 62.7% 14 AALVQDYVQMKAS 11.9% 14.7% 0.0% 15 LVQDYVQMKASEL 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 16 QDYVQMKASELEQ 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 17 YVQMKASELEQEQ 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 18 QMKASELEQEQER 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 19 KASELEQEQEREG 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 20 SELEQEQEREGSS 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 21 LEQEQEREGSSLD 0.0% 0.1% 0.0% 22 QEQEREGSSLDSP 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 23 QEREGSSLDSPRS 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 24 REGSSLDSPRSKR 0.0% 0.1% 0.0% 25 GSSLDSPRSKRCG 0.0% 0.3% 0.1% 26 SLDSPRSKRCGNL 0.0% 0.2% 0.3% 27 DSPRSKRCGNLST 0.0% 0.0% 0.2% 28 PRSKRCGNLSTCM 0.0% 0.0% 0.2% 29 SKRCGNLSTCMLG 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 30 RCGNLSTCMLGTY 0.0% 0.0% 0.2% 31 GNLSTCMLGTYTQ 0.1% 0.0% 0.0% 32 LSTCMLGTYTQDF 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 33 TCMLGTYTQDFNK 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 34 MLGTYTQDFNKFH 0.0% 3.4% 0.0% 35 GTYTQDFNKFHTF 0.0% 1.9% 0.0% 36 YTQDFNKFHTFPQ 0.0% 0.1% 0.0% 37 QDFNKFHTFPQTA 0.4% 0.0% 0.0% 38 FNKFHTFPQTAIG 0.0% 0.1% 0.0% 39 KFHTFPQTAIGVG 0.2% 0.0% 0.0% 40 HTFPQTAIGVGAP 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 41 FPQTAIGVGAPGK 0.1% 0.0% 0.0% 42 QTAIGVGAPGKKR 1.0% 0.1% 0.1% 43 AIGVGAPGKKRDM 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 44 GVGAPGKKRDMSS 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 45 GAPGKKRDMSSDL 0.0% 0.6% 0.0% 46 PGKKRDMSSDLER 0.0% 0.3% 0.1% 47 KKRDMSSDLERDH 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 48 RDMSSDLERDHRP 0.0% 1.5% 0.0% 49 MSSDLERDHRPHV 1.8% 1.5% 1.9% 50 SDLERDHRPHVSM 0.4% 1.5% 0.9% 51 LERDHRPHVSMPQ 1.3% 1.5% 2.8% 52 RDHRPHVSMPQNA 0.0% 0.1% 0.2% 53 DHRPHVSMPQNAN 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 54 APFRSALESSPADPATLSED 0.2% 0.0% 0.0% 55 ALESSPADPATLSEDEARLL 0.3% 0.1% 0.0% 56 PADPATLSEDEARLLLAALV 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 57 TLSEDEARLLLAALVQDYVQ 64.4% 64.7% 49.9% 58 EARLLLAALVQDYVQMKASE 74.6% 100.0% 100.0% 59 LAALVQDYVQMKASELEQEQ 2.8% 2.7% 0.1% 60 QDYVQMKASELEQEQEREGS 0.7% 0.0% 0.1% 61 MKASELEQEQEREGSSLDSP 0.6% 0.0% 0.1% 62 LEQEQEREGSSLDSPRSKRC 0.0% 0.4% 0.1% 63 EREGSSLDSPRSKRCGNLST 0.0% 0.2% 0.0% 64 SLDSPRSKRCGNLSTCMLGT 0.5% 0.0% 0.0% 65 RSKRCGNLSTCMLGTYTQDF 0.9% 0.2% 0.0% 66 GNLSTCMLGTYTQDFNKFHT 0.0% 0.5% 0.0% 67 CMLGTYTQDFNKFHTFPQTA 0.0% 0.1% 0.0% 68 YTQDFNKFHTFPQTAIGVGA 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 69 NKFHTFPQTAIGVGAPGKKR 4.8% 0.3% 0.9% 70 FPQTAIGVGAPGKKRDMSSD 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 71 IGVGAPGKKRDMSSDLERDH 0.0% 0.1% 0.0% 72 PGKKRDMSSDLERDHRPHVS 0.7% 0.1% 2.3% 73 DMSSDLERDHRPHVSMPQNA 0.2% 0.1% 0.3% 74 MSSDLERDHRPHVSMPQNAN 0.3% 0.4% 0.2%

Sequence CWU 1

1

871116PRTHomo sapiens 1Ala Pro Phe Arg Ser Ala Leu Glu Ser Ser Pro Ala Asp Pro Ala Thr 1 5 10 15 Leu Ser Glu Asp Glu Ala Arg Leu Leu Leu Ala Ala Leu Val Gln Asp 20 25 30 Tyr Val Gln Met Lys Ala Ser Glu Leu Glu Gln Glu Gln Glu Arg Glu 35 40 45 Gly Ser Ser Leu Asp Ser Pro Arg Ser Lys Arg Cys Gly Asn Leu Ser 50 55 60 Thr Cys Met Leu Gly Thr Tyr Thr Gln Asp Phe Asn Lys Phe His Thr 65 70 75 80 Phe Pro Gln Thr Ala Ile Gly Val Gly Ala Pro Gly Lys Lys Arg Asp 85 90 95 Met Ser Ser Asp Leu Glu Arg Asp His Arg Pro His Val Ser Met Pro 100 105 110 Gln Asn Ala Asn 115 248PRTArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence Synthetic polypeptide 2Glu Leu Arg Met Ser Ser Ser Tyr Pro Thr Gly Leu Ala Asp Val Lys 1 5 10 15 Ala Gly Pro Ala Gln Thr Leu Ile Arg Pro Gln Asp Met Lys Gly Ala 20 25 30 Ser Arg Ser Pro Glu Asp Ser Ser Pro Asp Ala Ala Arg Ile Arg Val 35 40 45 320PRTHomo sapiens 3Glu Ala Arg Leu Leu Leu Ala Ala Leu Val Gln Asp Tyr Val Gln Met 1 5 10 15 Lys Ala Ser Glu 20 413PRTHomo sapiens 4Leu Leu Ala Ala Leu Val Gln Asp Tyr Val Gln Met Lys 1 5 10 511PRTHomo sapiens 5Gly Thr Tyr Thr Gln Asp Phe Asn Lys Phe His 1 5 10 610PRTHomo sapiens 6Glu Arg Asp His Arg Pro His Val Ser Met 1 5 10 719PRTHomo sapiens 7Phe Arg Ser Ala Leu Glu Ser Ser Pro Ala Asp Pro Ala Thr Leu Ser 1 5 10 15 Glu Asp Glu 811PRTHomo sapiens 8Ser Asp Leu Glu Arg Asp His Arg Pro His Val 1 5 10 911PRTHomo sapiens 9Ala Pro Phe Arg Leu Ser Ala Leu Glu Ser Cys 1 5 10 1012PRTHomo sapiens 10Asp Ser Pro Arg Ser Lys Arg Cys Gly Asn Leu Ser 1 5 10 1112PRTHomo sapiens 11Val Gly Ala Pro Gly Lys Lys Arg Asp Met Ser Ser 1 5 10 127PRTHomo sapiens 12Thr Tyr Thr Gln Asp Phe Asn 1 5 1311PRTHomo sapiens 13Asp Met Ser Ser Asp Leu Glu Arg Asp His Arg 1 5 10 1413PRTHomo sapiens 14Ala Pro Phe Arg Ser Ala Leu Glu Ser Ser Pro Ala Asp 1 5 10 1513PRTHomo sapiens 15Phe Arg Ser Ala Leu Glu Ser Ser Pro Ala Asp Pro Ala 1 5 10 1613PRTHomo sapiens 16Ser Ala Leu Glu Ser Ser Pro Ala Asp Pro Ala Thr Leu 1 5 10 1713PRTHomo sapiens 17Leu Glu Ser Ser Pro Ala Asp Pro Ala Thr Leu Ser Glu 1 5 10 1813PRTHomo sapiens 18Ser Ser Pro Ala Asp Pro Ala Thr Leu Ser Glu Asp Glu 1 5 10 1913PRTHomo sapiens 19Pro Ala Asp Pro Ala Thr Leu Ser Glu Asp Glu Ala Arg 1 5 10 2013PRTHomo sapiens 20Asp Pro Ala Thr Leu Ser Glu Asp Glu Ala Arg Leu Leu 1 5 10 2113PRTHomo sapiens 21Ala Thr Leu Ser Glu Asp Glu Ala Arg Leu Leu Leu Ala 1 5 10 2213PRTHomo sapiens 22Leu Ser Glu Asp Glu Ala Arg Leu Leu Leu Ala Ala Leu 1 5 10 2313PRTHomo sapiens 23Glu Asp Glu Ala Arg Leu Leu Leu Ala Ala Leu Val Gln 1 5 10 2413PRTHomo sapiens 24Glu Ala Arg Leu Leu Leu Ala Ala Leu Val Gln Asp Tyr 1 5 10 2513PRTHomo sapiens 25Arg Leu Leu Leu Ala Ala Leu Val Gln Asp Tyr Val Gln 1 5 10 2613PRTHomo sapiens 26Leu Leu Ala Ala Leu Val Gln Asp Tyr Val Gln Met Lys 1 5 10 2713PRTHomo sapiens 27Ala Ala Leu Val Gln Asp Tyr Val Gln Met Lys Ala Ser 1 5 10 2813PRTHomo sapiens 28Leu Val Gln Asp Tyr Val Gln Met Lys Ala Ser Glu Leu 1 5 10 2913PRTHomo sapiens 29Gln Asp Tyr Val Gln Met Lys Ala Ser Glu Leu Glu Gln 1 5 10 3013PRTHomo sapiens 30Tyr Val Gln Met Lys Ala Ser Glu Leu Glu Gln Glu Gln 1 5 10 3113PRTHomo sapiens 31Gln Met Lys Ala Ser Glu Leu Glu Gln Glu Gln Glu Arg 1 5 10 3213PRTHomo sapiens 32Lys Ala Ser Glu Leu Glu Gln Glu Gln Glu Arg Glu Gly 1 5 10 3313PRTHomo sapiens 33Ser Glu Leu Glu Gln Glu Gln Glu Arg Glu Gly Ser Ser 1 5 10 3413PRTHomo sapiens 34Leu Glu Gln Glu Gln Glu Arg Glu Gly Ser Ser Leu Asp 1 5 10 3513PRTHomo sapiens 35Gln Glu Gln Glu Arg Glu Gly Ser Ser Leu Asp Ser Pro 1 5 10 3613PRTHomo sapiens 36Gln Glu Arg Glu Gly Ser Ser Leu Asp Ser Pro Arg Ser 1 5 10 3713PRTHomo sapiens 37Arg Glu Gly Ser Ser Leu Asp Ser Pro Arg Ser Lys Arg 1 5 10 3813PRTHomo sapiens 38Gly Ser Ser Leu Asp Ser Pro Arg Ser Lys Arg Cys Gly 1 5 10 3913PRTHomo sapiens 39Ser Leu Asp Ser Pro Arg Ser Lys Arg Cys Gly Asn Leu 1 5 10 4013PRTHomo sapiens 40Asp Ser Pro Arg Ser Lys Arg Cys Gly Asn Leu Ser Thr 1 5 10 4113PRTHomo sapiens 41Pro Arg Ser Lys Arg Cys Gly Asn Leu Ser Thr Cys Met 1 5 10 4213PRTHomo sapiens 42Ser Lys Arg Cys Gly Asn Leu Ser Thr Cys Met Leu Gly 1 5 10 4313PRTHomo sapiens 43Arg Cys Gly Asn Leu Ser Thr Cys Met Leu Gly Thr Tyr 1 5 10 4413PRTHomo sapiens 44Gly Asn Leu Ser Thr Cys Met Leu Gly Thr Tyr Thr Gln 1 5 10 4513PRTHomo sapiens 45Leu Ser Thr Cys Met Leu Gly Thr Tyr Thr Gln Asp Phe 1 5 10 4613PRTHomo sapiens 46Thr Cys Met Leu Gly Thr Tyr Thr Gln Asp Phe Asn Lys 1 5 10 4713PRTHomo sapiens 47Met Leu Gly Thr Tyr Thr Gln Asp Phe Asn Lys Phe His 1 5 10 4813PRTHomo sapiens 48Gly Thr Tyr Thr Gln Asp Phe Asn Lys Phe His Thr Phe 1 5 10 4913PRTHomo sapiens 49Tyr Thr Gln Asp Phe Asn Lys Phe His Thr Phe Pro Gln 1 5 10 5013PRTHomo sapiens 50Gln Asp Phe Asn Lys Phe His Thr Phe Pro Gln Thr Ala 1 5 10 5113PRTHomo sapiens 51Phe Asn Lys Phe His Thr Phe Pro Gln Thr Ala Ile Gly 1 5 10 5213PRTHomo sapiens 52Lys Phe His Thr Phe Pro Gln Thr Ala Ile Gly Val Gly 1 5 10 5313PRTHomo sapiens 53His Thr Phe Pro Gln Thr Ala Ile Gly Val Gly Ala Pro 1 5 10 5413PRTHomo sapiens 54Phe Pro Gln Thr Ala Ile Gly Val Gly Ala Pro Gly Lys 1 5 10 5513PRTHomo sapiens 55Gln Thr Ala Ile Gly Val Gly Ala Pro Gly Lys Lys Arg 1 5 10 5613PRTHomo sapiens 56Ala Ile Gly Val Gly Ala Pro Gly Lys Lys Arg Asp Met 1 5 10 5713PRTHomo sapiens 57Gly Val Gly Ala Pro Gly Lys Lys Arg Asp Met Ser Ser 1 5 10 5813PRTHomo sapiens 58Gly Ala Pro Gly Lys Lys Arg Asp Met Ser Ser Asp Leu 1 5 10 5913PRTHomo sapiens 59Pro Gly Lys Lys Arg Asp Met Ser Ser Asp Leu Glu Arg 1 5 10 6013PRTHomo sapiens 60Lys Lys Arg Asp Met Ser Ser Asp Leu Glu Arg Asp His 1 5 10 6113PRTHomo sapiens 61Arg Asp Met Ser Ser Asp Leu Glu Arg Asp His Arg Pro 1 5 10 6213PRTHomo sapiens 62Met Ser Ser Asp Leu Glu Arg Asp His Arg Pro His Val 1 5 10 6313PRTHomo sapiens 63Ser Asp Leu Glu Arg Asp His Arg Pro His Val Ser Met 1 5 10 6413PRTHomo sapiens 64Leu Glu Arg Asp His Arg Pro His Val Ser Met Pro Gln 1 5 10 6513PRTHomo sapiens 65Arg Asp His Arg Pro His Val Ser Met Pro Gln Asn Ala 1 5 10 6613PRTHomo sapiens 66Asp His Arg Pro His Val Ser Met Pro Gln Asn Ala Asn 1 5 10 6720PRTHomo sapiens 67Ala Pro Phe Arg Ser Ala Leu Glu Ser Ser Pro Ala Asp Pro Ala Thr 1 5 10 15 Leu Ser Glu Asp 20 6820PRTHomo sapiens 68Ala Leu Glu Ser Ser Pro Ala Asp Pro Ala Thr Leu Ser Glu Asp Glu 1 5 10 15 Ala Arg Leu Leu 20 6920PRTHomo sapiens 69Pro Ala Asp Pro Ala Thr Leu Ser Glu Asp Glu Ala Arg Leu Leu Leu 1 5 10 15 Ala Ala Leu Val 20 7020PRTHomo sapiens 70Thr Leu Ser Glu Asp Glu Ala Arg Leu Leu Leu Ala Ala Leu Val Gln 1 5 10 15 Asp Tyr Val Gln 20 7120PRTHomo sapiens 71Glu Ala Arg Leu Leu Leu Ala Ala Leu Val Gln Asp Tyr Val Gln Met 1 5 10 15 Lys Ala Ser Glu 20 7220PRTHomo sapiens 72Leu Ala Ala Leu Val Gln Asp Tyr Val Gln Met Lys Ala Ser Glu Leu 1 5 10 15 Glu Gln Glu Gln 20 7320PRTHomo sapiens 73Gln Asp Tyr Val Gln Met Lys Ala Ser Glu Leu Glu Gln Glu Gln Glu 1 5 10 15 Arg Glu Gly Ser 20 7420PRTHomo sapiens 74Met Lys Ala Ser Glu Leu Glu Gln Glu Gln Glu Arg Glu Gly Ser Ser 1 5 10 15 Leu Asp Ser Pro 20 7520PRTHomo sapiens 75Leu Glu Gln Glu Gln Glu Arg Glu Gly Ser Ser Leu Asp Ser Pro Arg 1 5 10 15 Ser Lys Arg Cys 20 7620PRTHomo sapiens 76Glu Arg Glu Gly Ser Ser Leu Asp Ser Pro Arg Ser Lys Arg Cys Gly 1 5 10 15 Asn Leu Ser Thr 20 7720PRTHomo sapiens 77Ser Leu Asp Ser Pro Arg Ser Lys Arg Cys Gly Asn Leu Ser Thr Cys 1 5 10 15 Met Leu Gly Thr 20 7820PRTHomo sapiens 78Arg Ser Lys Arg Cys Gly Asn Leu Ser Thr Cys Met Leu Gly Thr Tyr 1 5 10 15 Thr Gln Asp Phe 20 7920PRTHomo sapiens 79Gly Asn Leu Ser Thr Cys Met Leu Gly Thr Tyr Thr Gln Asp Phe Asn 1 5 10 15 Lys Phe His Thr 20 8020PRTHomo sapiens 80Cys Met Leu Gly Thr Tyr Thr Gln Asp Phe Asn Lys Phe His Thr Phe 1 5 10 15 Pro Gln Thr Ala 20 8120PRTHomo sapiens 81Tyr Thr Gln Asp Phe Asn Lys Phe His Thr Phe Pro Gln Thr Ala Ile 1 5 10 15 Gly Val Gly Ala 20 8220PRTHomo sapiens 82Asn Lys Phe His Thr Phe Pro Gln Thr Ala Ile Gly Val Gly Ala Pro 1 5 10 15 Gly Lys Lys Arg 20 8320PRTHomo sapiens 83Phe Pro Gln Thr Ala Ile Gly Val Gly Ala Pro Gly Lys Lys Arg Asp 1 5 10 15 Met Ser Ser Asp 20 8420PRTHomo sapiens 84Ile Gly Val Gly Ala Pro Gly Lys Lys Arg Asp Met Ser Ser Asp Leu 1 5 10 15 Glu Arg Asp His 20 8520PRTHomo sapiens 85Pro Gly Lys Lys Arg Asp Met Ser Ser Asp Leu Glu Arg Asp His Arg 1 5 10 15 Pro His Val Ser 20 8620PRTHomo sapiens 86Asp Met Ser Ser Asp Leu Glu Arg Asp His Arg Pro His Val Ser Met 1 5 10 15 Pro Gln Asn Ala 20 8720PRTHomo sapiens 87Met Ser Ser Asp Leu Glu Arg Asp His Arg Pro His Val Ser Met Pro 1 5 10 15 Gln Asn Ala Asn 20

Claims

1. In vitro method for the detection of Procalcitonin or a fragment thereof of at least 20 amino acid residues in length in a biological sample derived from a bodily fluid obtained from a subject, comprising the steps of: a. contacting said sample with at least two antibodies or functional fragments thereof directed against different epitopes within Procalcitonin, and b. qualitatively or quantitatively detecting binding of said at least two antibodies to Procalcitonin or said fragment thereof, wherein binding indicates the presence or concentration of Procalcitonin or said fragment in said sample, wherein at least one antibody or functional fragment thereof is directed against an epitope comprised in the sequence spanning amino acid residues 2 to 52 of Procalcitonin.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the antibody or functional fragment thereof, which is directed against an epitope comprised in the sequence spanning amino acid residues 2 to 52 of Procalcitonin, is a monoclonal antibody.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein one other antibody or functional fragment thereof is directed against an epitope comprised in the sequence spanning amino acid residues 53 to 116 of Procalcitonin.

4. The method according claim 1, wherein the epitope comprised in the sequence spanning amino acid residues 2 to 52 of Procalcitonin is an epitope comprised in the sequence spanning amino acid residues 16 to 40 of Procalcitonin.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the epitope comprised in the sequence spanning amino acid residues 16 to 40 of Procalcitonin is selected from a group consisting of an epitope comprised in the sequence spanning amino acid residues 21 to 40 of Procalcitonin, an epitope comprised in the sequence spanning amino acid residues 16 to 35 of Procalcitonin and an epitope comprised in the sequence spanning amino acid residues 25 to 37 of Procalcitonin.

6. The method according to claim 3, wherein the epitope comprised in the sequence spanning amino acid residues 53 to 116 of Procalcitonin is an epitope comprised in the sequence spanning amino acid residues 96 to 116 of Procalcitonin or an epitope comprised in the sequence spanning amino acid residues 60 to 91 of Procalcitonin.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the antibody or functional fragment thereof, which is directed against an epitope comprised in the sequence spanning amino acid residues 53 to 116 of Procalcitonin, is a monoclonal antibody.

8. Antibody or a functional fragment thereof directed against an epitope comprised in the sequence spanning amino acid residues 16 to 40 of Procalcitonin.

9. Antibody or a functional fragment thereof according to claim 8, wherein the antibody or functional fragment thereof is directed against an epitope is selected from a group consisting of an epitope comprised in the sequence spanning amino acid residues 21 to 40 of Procalcitonin, an epitope comprised in the sequence spanning amino acid residues 16 to 35 of Procalcitonin and an epitope comprised in the sequence spanning amino acid residues 25 to 37 of Procalcitonin.

10. Antibody according to claim 8, wherein the antibody is monoclonal.

11. Antibody according to claim 10, wherein the antibody is produced by a hybridoma cell line that is deposited at the DSMZ under accession number DSM ACC2993, DSM ACC2996 or DSM ACC2997.

12. Kit comprising at least a. a first antibody or a functional fragment thereof directed against an epitope comprised in the sequence spanning amino acid residues 2 to 52 of Procalcitonin, and b. a second antibody or a functional fragment thereof directed against an epitope comprised in the sequence spanning amino acid residues 53 to 116 of Procalcitonin.

13. Kit according to claim 12, wherein the first antibody is directed against an epitope comprised in the sequence spanning amino acid residues 16 to 40 of Procalcitonin, preferably against an epitope that is selected from a group consisting of an epitope comprised in the sequence spanning amino acid residues 21 to 40 of Procalcitonin, an epitope comprised in the sequence spanning amino acid residues 16 to 35 of Procalcitonin and an epitope comprised in the sequence spanning amino acid residues 25 to 37 of Procalcitonin.

14. Kit according to claim 12, wherein the second antibody is directed against an epitope comprised in the sequence spanning amino acid residues 60 to 91 of Procalcitonin or directed against an epitope comprised in the sequence spanning amino acid residues 96 to 116 of Procalcitonin.

15. A method of performing a sandwich immunoassay for the detection and or quantification of Procalcitonin in a biological sample from a bodily fluid comprising employing a kit of claim 12.

16. The method according to claim 1 for the determination of the presence or absence of Procalcitonin or a fragment thereof or for the quantification of Procalcitonin or a fragment thereof in a biological sample from a bodily fluid.

17. The method according to claim 16 for the diagnosis, prognosis, risk stratification, therapy monitoring, therapy guidance, or stratification for application of therapeutic measures of a disease or condition associated with elevated Procalcitonin levels.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the disease or condition is selected from the group of local bacterial infections, sepsis, severe sepsis, septic shock, non-infectious disease including cardiovascular diseases (acute coronary syndrome, heart failure, coronary artery disease, atherosclerosis, stroke), cancer, diabetes, chronic gastrointestinal diseases, chronic renal diseases, hypertension, orthopaedic diseases including osteoporosis, and neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease.

19. The hybridoma cell line deposited at the DSMZ under accession number DSM ACC2993, DSM ACC2996 or DSM ACC2997.