title: Evidence that the serotype b antigenic determinant of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans Y4 resides in the polysaccharide moiety of lipopolysaccharide.
abstract: A high-molecular-weight polysaccharide-containing antigen was isolated from a phenol-water extract of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans ATCC 43718 (formerly Y4) by gel permeation chromatography in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-disaggregating buffer. The polysaccharide antigen formed a precipitin band with rabbit serotype b-specific antiserum but not with rabbit antisera to serotype a or c. Electroblotted serotype b antigen was probed with serum from a patient with localized juvenile periodontitis (LJP), resulting in a diffuse "smear" in the upper region of the lane. By utilizing an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, it was demonstrated that the geometric mean immunoglobulin G antibody titer to the serotype b polysaccharide was significantly higher in sera from LJP patients than in sera from periodontally healthy individuals. Moreover, LJP antibody titers to the serotype b polysaccharide exhibited age-dependent variation. Double immunodiffusion analysis revealed that the serotype b antigen formed a line of identity with low-molecular-weight LPS following reaction with serotype b-specific antiserum. Incubation of LJP serum in the presence of a lipid-free polysaccharide moiety obtained by mild acid hydrolysis of LPS from A. actinomycetemcomitans Y4 markedly reduced immunoglobulin G titer to the serotype b antigen. In contrast, solubilized lipid A was only weakly inhibitory. The results of this study indicate that the serotype b-specific determinant of A. actinomycetemcomitans resides in the polysaccharide moiety of LPS and represents a major target for immunoglobulin G antibody in serum of LJP subjects colonized by this organism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Biology, School of Dental Medicine, State University of New York, Buffalo 14214.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Schifferle
mesh_terms: D000188:Actinobacillus / Q000276:immunology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D000939:Epitopes / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D005779:Immunodiffusion; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D000939:Epitopes; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial