Detection by Immunofluorescence of Common Antigenic Determinants in Unrelated Gram-Negative Bacteria and Their Lipopolysaccharides

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Various gram-negative bacteria were subjected to mild acid hydrolysis. The acidtreated bacteria exhibited strong cross-reactivity with fluorescein isothiocyanateconjugated antiserum to the Re mutant of Salmonella minnesota. Hydrolyzed bacteria showed considerably stronger fluorescence than heat-treated bacteria. It is assumed that acid hydrolysis uncovers shared glycolipid determinants that are responsible for cross-reactivity. Isolated homologous and heterologous lipopolysaccharides were allowed to react with antibody to S. minnesota Re insolubilized by covalent binding to aminohexyl Sepharose 4B. The resulting antigen-antibody complexes were visualized by exposure to the fluorescent antiserum. This treatment allows the demonstration of glycolipid structures of intact lipopolysaccharides.