Immunochemical Identification of the Major Cell Surface Agglutinogen of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus RAG-92

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Abstract
The immunochemical and immunocytochemical characteristics of 3 A. calcoaceticus RAG strains were compared to clarify the relationship between antibody-induced agglutination and the production of polyanionic extracellular emulsifier (termed emulsan). In addition to the parent, RAG-92, 2 mutant strains were examined: a non-agglutinating emulsan-producer (AB15) and an agglutinating mutant (16TLU) defective in the production of emulsan. A combined genetic-immunochemical approach was employed. This included the comparison of crossed immunoelectrophoresis patterns of parent and mutant supernates and the effect of absorption of anti-whole cell antiserum with mutant cells. Agglutinability and competition studies and EM cytochemistry were performed. Three major antigenic components were associated with the cell surface and the supernate. Mutant cells were altered in their cell surface properties and extracellular products. One antigenic component, termed component C3, was the major cell surface agglutinogen; this component was absent in non-agglutinating mutants. Component C3 may be identical with or attached to the 300 nm projections on the parent cell surface; it is not directly related to the presence of emulsan. Apparently, emulsan plays little or no role in the phenomenon of antibody-induced agglutination of this organism.