Antigenic Properties of Bacillus licheniformis Cell Wall Components

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Abstract
Antibodies directed against mucopeptide were obtained by immunization of rabbits with Bacillus licheniformis N. C. T. C. 6346 cell walls extracted chemically to remove the teichoic acids. The teichuronic acid component present in whole walls or alkali extracted walls of the organism was not significantly immunogenic in rabbits. The mucopeptide antisera reacted strongly with sonicates of Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus subtilis mucopeptides and the homologous reaction was inhibited by soluble fragments of low molecular weight derived from mucopeptide. The best inhibition of the homologous reaction was obtained with fragments containing peptide and hexosamine material isolated from the soluble products of lysozyme treatment of Bacillus licheniformis mucopeptide.Immune sera obtained from rabbits immunized with intact Bacillus licheniformis N. C. T. C. 6346 walls containing mucopeptide, teichuronic acid and teichoic acids contained antibodies directed mainly against the teichoic acids. The immune response to the mucopeptide component was greatly reduced compared to that obtained when wall preparations lacking teichoic acids were used as immunizing antigens.