title: A study of the surface and somatic antigens of Bacteroides fragilis.
abstract: Antisera against live cultures of 20 strains of Bacteroides fragilis produced in rabbits agglutinated homologous whole-cell as well as O-antigen suspensions with several cross-reactions. Pure specific antisera were produced by absorbing cross-reacting antigens. O-antisera reacted against O-antigens but failed to do so against most whole-cell suspensions, suggesting the presence of surface structures which might have blocked the reactions. The titres of the whole-cell antisera were not significantly higher than those of O-antisera, but the reactions were more definite and easier to read. This system may prove useful in serological studies of B. fragilis.
mesh_terms: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001441:Bacteroides fragilis / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000276:immunology; D003429:Cross Reactions; D007106:Immune Sera; D012703:Serotyping; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D007106:Immune Sera