Detection of anti-teichoic acid immunoglobulin G antibodies in experimental Staphylococcus epidermidis endocarditis.
An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed for the detection of rabbit immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to purified cell wall teichoic acids from the Staphylococcus aureus Lafferty strain and three strains of coagulase-negative staphylococci. Significant immunological cross-reactivity occurred only between the teichoic acid of S. aureus and one coagulase-negative preparation. The ELISA was used to determine the serum IgG response to Staphylococcus epidermidis in a rabbit model of aortic valve endocarditis. Blood samples were drawn before inoculation and then every 5 days until death or sacrifice at 32 to 35 days postinoculation. Valve vegetations were culture positive at autopsy in 16 (59%) of the 27 catheterized rabbits. Antibody titers in this culture-positive group and the culture-negative group began to rise as early as day 6. Although both groups demonstrated an antibody response, the culture-positive group attained a significantly higher titer on days 26 and 31. Antibodies also rose in a control group of rabbits without a heart catheter but which were inoculated with bacteria. Again, the antibody titer was significantly less than that for the culture-positive group. This ELISA may be useful for the diagnosis of coagulase-negative staphylococcal infections in humans.
D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000276:immunology; D003429:Cross Reactions; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis*; D011817:Rabbits; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis / Q000276:immunology*; D013682:Teichoic Acids / Q000276:immunology*
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D013682:Teichoic Acids