Demonstration of heat-labile antigen(s) of Bacteroides fragilis associated with non-homogeneous immunofluorescent staining.
Rabbit hyperimmune sera against nine Bacteroides fragilis strains were tested in indirect immunofluorescence against homologous and heterologous formalin and heat-treated bacterial cells. Strain-specific heat-stable and heat-labile antigens were demonstrated as well as many cross-reactive ones. Besides these findings a striking non-homogeneous fluorescence was noted, inasmuch as varying numbers of the bacterial cells were stained while others were not. Results of absorption experiments indicated that the reactive antigens were heat-labile. Non-homogeneous fluorescence was also demonstrated with sera from patients with clinically significant Bacteroides fragilis infections.
D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis*; D001441:Bacteroides fragilis / Q000276:immunology*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D011817:Rabbits; D013194:Staining and Labeling
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D000954:Antigens, Surface