Immunochemical studies on the lipoteichoic acids of Bifidobacterium bifidum subsp. pennsylvanicum.
Antisera to lipoteichoic acid of Bifidobacterium bifidum subsp. pennsylvanicum were obtained by injecting lipoteichoic acid/methylated BSA complexes into rabbits. Precipitin tests showed that the glycerol phosphate backbone is primarily responsible for serological specificity while the polysaccharide part of the molecule plays a minor role. Whole cells of B. bifidum subsp. pennsylvanicum were capable of absorbing antibodies, indicating the presence of lipoteichoic acid (14% of the total content) at or near the bacterial surface. Cross-reactivity with strains of the genera Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus was tested using absorption of antiserum by whole bacteria and reactivity of phenol extracts. The results indicated that lipoteichoic acid is a common antigen within the genus Bifidobacterium. The cross-reactivity with the lactobacilli tested was very low.
H J
HJ
Op den Camp
P A
PA
Peeters
A
A
Oosterhof
J H
JH
Veerkamp
D000818:Animals; D001644:Bifidobacterium / Q000276:immunology*; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000276:immunology; D003429:Cross Reactions; D000939:Epitopes / Q000032:analysis; D006385:Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D010712:Phosphatidic Acids / Q000276:immunology*; D011233:Precipitin Tests; D011817:Rabbits; D013682:Teichoic Acids / Q000276:immunology*
D000939:Epitopes; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D010712:Phosphatidic Acids; D013682:Teichoic Acids; C009900:lipoteichoic acid