CROSS‐REACTIONS BETWEEN STAPHYLOCOCCUS EPIDERMIDIS AND 23 OTHER BACTERIAL SPECIES

Abstract
By quantitative immunoelectrophoretic methods, 43 antigens were found in a mixture of sonicated preparations of 4 clinical (human) S. epidermidis strains, using corresponding rabbit antiserum. Two of the antigens were identified as cell wall teichoic acid and a peptidoglycan antigen, respectively. Using this antigen/antibody reference system, cross-reactions between S. epidermidis antigens and antigens from other bacterial spp. were investigated. Of the S. epidermidis antigens, 14 cross-reacted with antigens from all S. aureus strains investigated. Only few cross-reactions were found between S. epidermidis and bacteria not belonging to the Micrococcaceae. The antigenic relatedness, expressed as a matching coefficient, seems promising for taxonomic work.

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