IMMUNOLOGICAL STUDIES ON STAPHYLOCOCCAL PENICILLINASES

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Abstract
Antistaphylococcal penicillinase sera were prepared using cell-free staphylococcal penicillinase concentrates as antigens in rabbits. Antisera to a purified Bacillus cereus penicillinase preparation were also prepared. Neutralizing antibodies were demonstrated in the immune sera by a microbiological assay method and precipitating antibodies demonstrated by agar diffusion.A significant difference in the neutralizing ability of anti-B. cereus penicillinase serum against Staphylococcus aureus and B. cereus penicillinases was found. With the anti-S. aureus penicillinase serum, the difference was less marked. The neutralization titers of both antisera against S. aureus penicillinase were of the same order. Neutralization experiments suggested that there might be immunological differences in the penicillinases from different S. aureus strains.Precipitation bands were obtained with purified preparations of staphylococcal and B. cereus penicillinases and homologous antisera, but no cross-precipitation was observed.