Detection and specificity of anti-Staphylococcus intermedius secretory IgA in human tears.
OBJECTIVE
Secretory IgA (sIgA) is the predominant immunoglobulin present in tears that protects the ocular surface against various antigens. Staphylococcus intermedius is a member of the normal ocular microbiota.


METHODS
The presence and the specificity of immunoglobulin A to S. intermedius was determined by fluorescent assay, ELISA and western blots.


RESULTS
Three immunodominant antigens of S. intermedius were detected of 145, 127 and 61 kDa. Staphylococcus intermedius-specific IgA cross reacted with Staphylococcus aureus but not with Gram negative bacteria.


CONCLUSIONS
This indicates that specific IgA may play an important role in the protection of the eye by limiting the levels of Gram positive normal microbiota and defending against the more pathogenic S. aureus.
Lan
J
J
School of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Microbiology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
Willcox
M D
MD
Jackson
G D
GD
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D015153:Blotting, Western; D003429:Cross Reactions / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory / Q000032:analysis*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000276:immunology; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000276:immunology*; D013666:Tears / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M