Factors influencing the reactivity of Legionella antigens in immunofluorescence tests

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Abstract
Several factors were examined for their effects on the serological reactivity of Legionella antigens used for direct or indirect fluorescent-antibody tests. These factors included media, methods of killing, strain differences and the nature of the reactivity with diverse human sera. The maximum serological reactivities were obtained with charcoal-yeast extract agar; the relative antigenicity of cells grown on a chemically defined medium could be 4-fold less than those grown on the charcoal-yeast extract agar. Cells grown at 25.degree. C showed only small antigenic differences from those grown at 35.degree. C but had better morphological and staining characteristics. Cells killed by 1% formalin or 37% formalin vapors showed a 20% less relative antigenicity than those killed by heat; their cell walls stained more clearly and they had fewer aberrations. As tested with several human sera, Philadelphia 1 cells showed great variation in relative antigenicity with changes in media or methods of preparation; Bellingham 1 was quite stable under these same conditions. Apparently, Bellingham 1 had serogroup 1-specific antigens, reactive with human sera, which were not present in Philadelphia 1.