title: Immunochemical analysis of a Smith-like antigen isolated from two human strains of Staphylococcus aureus.
abstract: A surface antigen consisting of aminoglucuronic acid and N-acetyl-L-alanine was isolated from the culture filtrates of two human strains of Staphylococcus aureus. Double diffusion analysis in agar suggested that the antigen is immunologically similar to the alanyl-aminoglucuronic acid capsule of the Smith strain of S. aureus. Quantitative precipitin inhibition studies indicated that N-acetyl-L-alanine is the immunodominant determinant of the acidic antigen. In addition, conjugates consisting of N-acetyl-L-alanine coupled to bovine serum albumin gave a significant precipitin reaction with anti-staphylococcal serum which is rich in alanyl-aminoglucuronic acid polymer antibodies. Antibodies with N-acetyl-L-alanine specificity were isolated from N-acetyl-L-alanine-Sepharose immunoabsorbent columns. Double diffusion analysis in agar indicated that the eluted antibodies were serologically reactive and belonged to the IgG class of immunoglobulins.
mesh_terms: D000042:Absorption; D000409:Alanine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis; D000606:Amino Sugars / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000276:immunology; D002846:Chromatography, Affinity; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D002852:Chromatography, Ion Exchange; D000939:Epitopes; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005965:Glucuronates / Q000032:analysis; D006386:Hemagglutination Tests; D006801:Humans; D007106:Immune Sera; D007120:Immunochemistry; D005779:Immunodiffusion; D007158:Immunologic Techniques; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis; D012756:Sheep / Q000276:immunology; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000276:immunology*; D014574:Uronic Acids / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D000606:Amino Sugars; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D000939:Epitopes; D005965:Glucuronates; D007106:Immune Sera; D014574:Uronic Acids; C010530:N-acetylalanine; D010758:Phosphorus; D000409:Alanine