Detection of Gonococcal Antigens by an Indirect Sandwich Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay

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Abstract
The detection of gonococcal antigens by an indirect sandwich ELISA [enzyme linked immunosorbent assay] system is described. The feasibility of using rabbit antiserum raised against whole cells of Neisseria gonorrhoeae strain 9 to detect gonococcal lipopolysaccharide, whole cells and outer membrane (OM) protein was investigated. OM protein was the main antigen detectable with the antiserum in an indirect ELISA system. A positive result in the indirect assay was obtained with a minimum of 46-92 ng of gonococcal OM protein or with 6.6 .times. 103 colony-forming units of N. gonorrhoeae. The sensitivity of the assay was 8-fold lower with OM complex from a strain of N. meningitidis serogroup B for which the minimum amount of OM protein detected with 375 ng. Negative results were obtained with OM complex from Streptococcus agalactiae, Bacteroides bivius and Escherichia coli. The assay seems to be highly specific for gonococcal antigens. The sensitivity of the assay and its specificity commend it for further evaluation on the detection of gonococcal antigens in clinical specimens.