Serology of Staphylococcus aureus infections using multiple antigens and serial serum samples.
The detection of antibody to S aureus in human serum can aid in the management of staphylococcal diseases [1]. RIAs and ELISAs can detect low levels of antibody and demonstrate increased antibody production during serious staphylococcal infections [2,3]. We compared four S aureus constituents--cell-wall peptidoglycan and teichoic acid, and extracellular alpha-toxin and nuclease--as antigens in a sensitive ELISA. The value of testing more than a single serum sample was also determined. Elevated IgG antibody to peptidoglycan, present in one or more serum samples of 13 (50%) of 26 patients with complicated bacteremia, was found to be the most sensitive test. All 26 patients had a significant IgG antibody response to peptidoglycan. Three (27%) of 11 patients with uncomplicated bacteremia had elevated levels of antibody to peptidoglycan in their serum, and seven (64%) showed a significant change in titer when serial serum samples were tested. Maximum detection rates for the other antigens in complicated and uncomplicated bacteremia were, respectively, 62% and 37% for teichoic acid, 38% and 37% for nuclease, and 54% and 13% for alpha-toxin. In single serum samples, the detection rate for all four antigens marginally improved the results, with detection rates of 62% and 36% for complicated and uncomplicated bacteremia, respectively. Cross-reactive antibody to peptidoglycan but not to the other three antigens was present in six (75%) of eight patients with long-standing subacute bacterial endocarditis due to either viridans streptococci or Staphylococcus epidermidis (data not shown).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; D006801:Humans; D008836:Micrococcal Nuclease / Q000276:immunology; D010457:Peptidoglycan / Q000276:immunology; D018805:Sepsis / Q000276:immunology*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000276:immunology*; D013682:Teichoic Acids / Q000276:immunology
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; D010457:Peptidoglycan; D013682:Teichoic Acids; C021091:staphylococcal alpha-toxin; D008836:Micrococcal Nuclease