Detection by immunofluorescence of common antigenic determinants in unrelated gram-negative bacteria and their lipopolysaccharides.
Various gram-negative bacteria were subjected to mild acid hydrolysis. The acid-treated bacteria exhibited strong cross-reactivity with fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated 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 insolublized 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.
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D001419:Bacteria / Q000276:immunology*; D003429:Cross Reactions; D000939:Epitopes; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000276:immunology*; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D012475:Salmonella / Q000276:immunology
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000939:Epitopes; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial