Thermolabile Antigen Research Articles

Serologic typing of Staphylococcus epidermidis biotype 4.

Three hundred sixty-five isolates of Staphylococcus epidermidis (coagulase-negative) obtained over a 12-month period from 10 selected wards at New York University Medical Center-Goldwater Memorial Hospital, Roosevelt Island, N.Y., were typed serologically by slide agglutination. The isolates were first biotyped by the Baird-Parker scheme and then subtyped as proteinase-positive or proteinase-negative so that the selection of strains for immunologic study was based on biochemical and enzymatic factors rather than on random choice. The biotyping scheme of Baird-Parker and the differentiation between proteolytic and nonproteolytic strains were of limited in initial categorization of isolates of S. epidermidis. Antisera to proteinase-positive and proteinase-negative S. epidermidis biotypes 1 and 4 were absorbed with different permutations of homologous and heterologous thermostable (TS) and thermolabile (TL) antigens, and four distinct TL and two distinct TS antigenic groups, representing five different serotype patterns (i.e., A1-2, B1-2, C-D1, C-D1-2, and E1), were detected. The TL antigens also appeared to be more widespread and were shared more frequently by strains of S. epidermidis than were TS antigens, but the use of both TS and TL antigens provided a better serologic system than use of either TS or TL antigens alone.

The anodically‐moving thermolabile antigen (ATA) of gram‐negative bacteria: Its function as the receptor for F pili

AbstractThe anodically‐moving thermolabile antigen ATA of protein nature, present in the cell wall of all members of Enterobacteriaceae and other gram‐negative bacteria tested, seems to be the F pili target on the recipient cell sufrace.

Das anodisch wandernde thermolabile Antigen (ATA) von gramnegativen Bakterien: Seine molekulare Heterogenität und seine chemische Zusammensetzung

AbstractThe anodically‐moving thermolabile antigen (ATA) of gram‐negative bacteria represents a glycolipoprotein. In aqueous solution ATA exhibits heterogeneity of the molecular size, the range varying between 2 · 104 and 8 · 105 Daltons. In the molecular range between 5 · 104 and 8 · 105 all the molecular states give precipitation lines with the corresponding antisera.It could be shown that all the molecular states of ATA are formed by different aggregation of the same subunit with a molecular weight of approximativly 22 000.

The anodically-moving thermolabile antigen (ATA) of gram-negative bacteria: its function as the receptor for F pili.

The anodically-moving thermolabile antigen ATA of protein nature, present in the cell wall of all members of Enterobacteriaceae and other gram-negative bacteria tested, seems to be the F pili target on the recipient cell sufrace.

A study of the serotyping of Proteus rettgeri

An approach to the serotyping of Proteus rettgeri through flagellar (H) and somatic (O) antigens is described. Major cross-reactions amongst strains with unlike H or O antigens were shown to be due to a common thermolabile capsular (or envelope) antigen. Absorption of antibodies against the thermolabile antigen resulted in specificity of the typing sera. Eighteen O, twelve H, and one K antigen are defined and their distribution among 83 strains is shown. Typing sera with reliable specificity may now be used in epidemiological investigations of infections with P. rettgeri.

A serological study of strains belonging to Sphaerophorus necrophorus, Sph. varius, and Sph. freundii.

The serological behaviour of 12 strains belonging toSph. necrophorus,Sph. varius, andSph. freundii was studied in cross-agglutination and gel-diffusion experiments using rabbit antisera against whole-cell adjuvant-free antigens. Owing to the spontaneous agglutinability ofSph. necrophorus suspensions, cross-agglutination could only be performed withSph. varius andSph. freundii antigens. In gel-diffusion studies, autoclaved extracts ofSph. necrophorus cultures reacted exclusively with their homologous antisera, whereas intraspecific reciprocal cross-reactions were due to non-heated extracts. Intraspecific cross-reactivity ofSph. varius andSph. freundii strains too was mostly dependant on thermolabile antigens, though the autoclaved extracts of these species gave similarly overlapping reactions. Unilateral interspecific cross-reactions related aSph. necrophorus culture and 3Sph. varius strains to theSph. freundii group. The existence of a close serologic relationship between members of the sameSphaerophorus species supports the biochemical differentiation proposed in a previous communication.

A serological method for the identification of Spirilla.

Antisera specific for Spirillum thermolabile antigens (TLA) of 29 Spirillum strains were obtained by adsorption of antisera prepared against unheated cells with homologous heat-treated cells. Each antiserum was tested against all of the Spirillum strains by cross-agglutination. Cross-agglutinations occurring at serum dilutions of 1:160 and above were considered indicative of a sufficient degree of antigenic relationship to permit serological grouping, and the antigenic relationships within such groups were supported by adsorption tests. The TLA antisera were used successfully to identify unknown Spirillum isolates. The high specificity of Spirillum TLA antisera allowed serological distinction of most of the species of Spirillum from one another and from members of related genera.

Characterization of virus-specific antigen in cell culture infected with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus.

Virus‐specific antigen from cultures of BHK cells infected with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus was studied. Virus antigen was mainly found in the cells and did not seem connected with infectious virus particles. Two distinct, “soluble”, precipitating antigens were demonstrated. One of these was a very thermolabile protein with a sedimentation constant near 3.5 S and an estimated molecular weight of about 48, 000. The other antigen was more thermostable and resisted prolonged incubation with Streptomyces griseus protease. The chemical nature of this antigen was not elucidated. Its sedimentation in rate zonal centrifugation was not significantly different from that of the thermolabile antigen.

Serological analysis of eleven strains of Rhizobium japonicum.

The present communication reports a serological analysis of eleven strains ofRhizobium japonicum. The slow-diffusing thermostable antigens were found to be suitable for the basic differentiation of the somatic serogroups inRhizobium japonicum. One to three precipitation bands of the slow-diffusing thermostable antigens, one to two bands of the fast-diffusing thermostable antigens and one to three bands of the thermolabile antigens were detectable in the whole cell cultures ofR. japonicum by means of the immunodiffusion technique. Two basic somatic serogroups were differentiated on the basis of the slow-diffusing thermostable antigens. The thermolabile antigens were identical in most of the strains.

Mold allergy: Fractionation of allergens by Sephadex G-200 gel filtration

The fractionation of mold extracts by Sephadex G-200 revealed, with some molds, three peaks absorbing light at 280 mμ. Skin reactivity and precipitation were localized in the small and middle peaks, while the larger peak contained the mold pigments and ninhydrin staining components. In some molds the middle peak was absent, but in these cases the skin and precipitation activities were found in the first fractions of the larger peak. Individual variations were observed among the patients in their skin reactivity to the various molds. Some patients reacted to both the small and middle peaks, but others reacted to only one of them. It is evident, therefore, that mold allergens can be divided into two groups on the basis of molecular size. In the case of Alternaria, the thermostable antigens were all concentrated in the small peak; thus, they have a larger molecular size than the thermolabile antigens which came out in the middle peak.

Localization of Antigens in Mechanically Disrupted Cells of Certain Species of the Genera Candida and Torulopsis

Summary The antigenic structure of mechanically disrupted cells of seven species of Candida and of T. glabrata was studied by means of agar gel diffusion methods. Two purified cell wall components of C. albicans, both glucomannanproteins (GMP I and GMP II), were compared with cell wall fractions of the seven species studied and found to be components common to all of them as well as to T. glabrata. Use of antisera to C. albicans, portions of which had been rendered monospecific for various antigens present in the genus by adsorption with cells of heterologous species, permitted an identification of antigens 1 to 3 as cell wall components, and of antigen 5 as a cytoplasmic component. Unique thermolabile antigens present in C. pseudotropicalis, C. krusei and C. parakrusei were determined to be cytoplasmic. Other antigens found were present in both cytoplasmic and cell wall components.

Antigen changes during spore formation in Bacillus cereus.

Baillie, Ann (University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland), and John R. Norris. Antigen changes during spore formation in Bacillus cereus. J. Bacteriol. 87:1221-1226. 1964.-Ultrasonic extracts of Bacillus cereus cells harvested at different stages in spore formation were analyzed by immunoelectrophoresis with antisera prepared by injecting similar extracts into rabbits. Seven antigens resistant to heating at 80 C for 10 min were detected in extracts of young vegetative cells, and there were at least eight additional thermolabile antigens present at this stage. During spore formation, many of the thermolabile antigens disappeared from the cells and new antigens could be detected. Mature spores contained four of the heat-resistant antigens present in young vegetative cells and an additional five heat-resistant antigens. Only three thermolabile antigens were detected in spore extracts.

Serological classification of the genusHansenula(III)

Antigenic analyses of five species of the genera Hansenula and Torulopsis were carried out by means of slide agglutination method using monospecific or absorbed antisera homologous to antigens of the genera Candida, Torulopsis, Hansenula and Debaryomyces. Then, antigenic structures of each species examined were confirmed by successive and reciprocal absorptions within antigenically related species.The antigenic structure of Hansenula ciferrii consists of the thermostable antigens 1, 2, 14, 15, 16 and 20 but no thermolabile antigen is present. It is identical to those of Hansemula anomala, H. schneggii and H. silvicola. Hansenula beigerinckii possesses thermostable antigens 21 and 22 besides the antigens of H. ciferrii but no thermolabile antigen. This is similar to the antigenic structure of Hansenula californica despite the differences in fermentative and assimilative characteristics. The antigenic structures of Hansenula jadinii and Torulopsis utilis consist of thermostable antigens 1, 2, 14, 16 and 17 ...

Serological classification of the genusTorulopsis

Antigenic analyses of 4 species of Torulopsis were carried out by the slide agglutination method using monospecific and absorbed antisera homologous to antigens of the genus Candida. The antigenic structure of each species was confirmed by reciprocal or successive absorption and slide agglutination test. Torulopsis stellata var. cambresieri and T. colliculosa possess the thermostable antigens 1, 3, 4 and 24, but no thermolabile antigen. Their antigenic structures were identical to those of Saccharomyces rosei and S. fermentati, respectively, despite the biological differences among them. Torulopsis holmii has thermostable antigens 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10 and 26, but no thermolabile antigen. The antigenic structure of this species is similar to that of S. exiguus. Torulopsis glabrata contains the thermostable antigens 1, 3, 6, 10 and 34, and thermolabile antigen k. In a comparative study, the antigenic structures of many strains coincided with those of the standard when they were analyzed with monospecific antis...

Diploid heterozygous hybrids from matings between Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhosa.

An Hfr strain of E. coli K-12 has been shown to mate at low frequency with a number of strains of S. typhosa. The hybrids, selected as lactose positives, retained all other antigenic and biochemical manifestations of the S. typhosa parent. A Lac(+) hybrid, S. typhosa strain 643L(+) was remated with the E. coli Hfr and plated on minimal media containing L-arabinose, D-xylose, L-rhamnose, or L-fucose as the sole carbon sources. Hybrids of the remated strain appeared at high frequency on the plates containing L-arabinose, and could be detected at lower frequencies on plates containing D-xylose, L-rhamnose, and L-fucose. Those selected for D-xylose or L-rhamnose utilization possessed the attributes of segregating diploid heterozygotes being highly unstable and continually segregating a cultural form typical of the S. typhosa parent. The unstable type exhibited most of the biochemical characteristics of the E. coli parent including the ability to produce indol, and also reacted with antiserum to both the E. coli and S. typhosa parent strains, owing to the acquisition of a thermolabile antigen from the E. coli parent. The parent and hybrid strains were examined in detail for changes in patterns of phage susceptibility and virulence. Acquisition of susceptibility to a number of the T phages, a characteristic of the E. coli parent, was observed in one of the hybrid types. A decrease in virulence of the diploid hybrid form of S. typhosa in the mouse virulence test was found.

Supplementary Studies on the Serological Classification of Yeast

Amemiya, Nishikawa and Fukazawa reported respectively that there are serological cross reactions among many species of the genera Candida, Hansenula and pichia. Four species of the genera Hansenula and Pichia, of which strains had not been established the antigenic strutures, were obtained for antigen analysis. The experiments were carried out througth the slide agglutination method using monospecific or absorbed antisera homologous to the antigens of the genus Candida. Then, an antiserum of a species was absorbed repeatedly with heated cells of several species in order to find a new antigen, until the absorbed antiserum was exhausted. Antigenic structures of the species were confirmed by the reciprocal absorptions. Hewever no new thermostable and thermoladile antigen was found. Antigenic structures of the species as follows : H. suaveolens has the thermostable antigens, 1, 2, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 20. H. holstii has antigens, 1, 2, 3, 13, 14, and 15. H. matritensis has the antigens 1, 2, 3, 4, 9 and 14, and the antigenic structure is the same to that of Torulopsis globosa. P. fermentans has the aatigens, 1, 2, 5 and 11. All he species have not any thermolabile antigen.

Studies on The Serological Classification of The Csenus Debaryomyces

There are serological cross reactions among many species of the genera Candida and Debaryomyces. Five species of the genus Debaryomyces were obtained for antigen analyses. The experiments were carried out through the slide agglutination method using monospecific or absorbed antisera homologous to the antigens of the genus Candida. Then, antiserum of a species was absorbed repeatedly with heated cells of several species of the genus Candida in order to find a new antigen, until the absorbed antiserum was exhausted. Antigenic structures of the species were confirmed by the reciprocal absorption. The new thermostable antigen 27 and the thermolabile antigen i were found in D. globosus. Antigenic structures of the five species were shown as follows : D. hansenii, D. kloeckeri, D. nicotianae and D. membranaefaciens have the thermostable antigens 1, 2, 3, 4, 9 and 14, and no thermolabile antigen. D. globosus has the thermostable antigens 1, 3, 10, 24 and 27, and the thermolabile antigen i.

Studies on the Serological Classification of the Genus <i>Torulopsis</i>

There are serological cross reactions among many species of the genera Candida and Torulopsis. The authentic strains of the geuns Torulopsis such as T. glabrata, T. holmii, T. stellata var. cambresieri and T. colliculosa, were used for antigen analyses by means of slide agglutination method using monospecific and absorbed antisera. Atigenic structures of the species were confirmed by the reciprocal absorption method. T. glabrata has the thermostable antigens 1, 3, 6, 10, 34 and thermolabile antigen k. Antigens 34 and k are the new and specific antigens of the species. T. holmii has the thermostable antigens 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 26 and T. stellata var. cambresieri and T. colliculosa have the thermostaqle antigens 1, 3, 4, 24. The last three species do not have any thermolabile antigen. Therefore, it can be concluded that the antigenic structure of T. holmii is the same to that of Saccharomyces exiguus, ann the antigenic structures of the last two species are identical to those of. S.rosei and S. fermentati.

Studies on the Classification of the Genus Saccharomy es

The authentic strains of the four species of the genus Saccharomyces such as S. mellis, S. pastorianus S. oviformis and S. chevalieri, were used for antigen analyses by means of slide agglutination method with monospecific or absorbed antisera homologous to antigens of the genus Candida. Then antiserum of a species was absorbed repeatedly with heated cells of several species of the genera Candida and Saccharomyces in order to find a new antigen until the absorbed antiserum was exhausted. Antigenic structures of the species were confirmed by the reciprocal absorption method. S. mellis has thermostable antigens 1, 8, 10, 31 and 32, S. pastoriarus has antigens 1, 8, 10 and 32, S. oviformis has antigens 1, 2, 3, 10, 14, 18 and 31, and S. chevalieri has antigens 1, 2, 3, 8, 10, 14, 18 and 31. But every species does not have any thermolabile antigen. Consequently, the first two species show almost the same to the antigenic structure of Candida pseudotropicalis, and the antigenic structure of S. oviformis isidentical to that of S.uvarum.

Characteristics of the new thermo-labile antigens occurring in Enterobactericeae.

Characteristics of the new thermo-labile antigens occurring in Enterobactericeae.