A Serological Approach to the Genus Pseudomonas

Abstract

Summary: Serological methods are described by which organisms of the genus Pseudomonas and related genera can be compared. More specific relationships are demonstrated by agglutination techniques or agar diffusion with trichloroacetic acid extracts; less specific relationships are shown by agar diffusion with disintegrated cell preparations. Up to three strain specific antigens may be found and at least six antigens are widely distributed amongst strains of the genera Pseudomonas, Achromobacter, Vibrio and Aeromonas. The results obtained so far indicate little or no agreement with any accepted taxo‐nomic divisions. Evidence is presented which suggests that most of the antigens detectable by agar diffusion techniques are polysaccharide in nature rather than protein.

The Antigens Associated with the Cell Walls of Members of the Genus Pseudomonas

“…The serological relationships demonstrated confirm and extend those reported by Hobbs et al (1964). Serological data of this kind do not permit any useful grouping of strains of pseudomonads and do not permit characterization of any of the presently accepted groups or species.…”

“…This had an antigenicity similar to that of the second antigen and was dependent on both thecarbohydrate and polypeptide components of the macromolecule. There appears to be some correlation between these findings and the structure of cell walls of pseudomonads are shown by electron microscopy.SEROLOGICAL STUDIES on members of the genus Pseudomonas, apart from strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, have been concerned with typing for the purposes of classification, taxonomy and epidemiology and although some difficulties have been experienced (see Hobbs, Cann, Gowland & Byers, 1964), methods based on those developed for the Enterobacteriaceae have been used to group the organisms in accordance with their somatic and flagellar antigens.Other wpkers have studied intracellular and extracellular products of pseudomonads. Liu (1 961) found that the toxic extracellular substances were antigenic and species specific.…”

“…SEROLOGICAL STUDIES on members of the genus Pseudomonas, apart from strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, have been concerned with typing for the purposes of classification, taxonomy and epidemiology and although some difficulties have been experienced (see Hobbs, Cann, Gowland & Byers, 1964), methods based on those developed for the Enterobacteriaceae have been used to group the organisms in accordance with their somatic and flagellar antigens.…”

Typing ofPseudomonas aeruginosa: comparison of the phage procedure with the pyocine technique

“…However, several authors found serotyping of limited value as most strains fell into relatively few types (Hobbs, Gowland & Byers, 1964;Farmer & Herman, 1969). A combination of pyocine typing and phage typing was used by Farmer & Herman (1969).…”

Serological and Pyocine Types of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from Various Sources

“…Those studies, including early ones, are reviewed by Verder and Evans [19], Hobbs and Cann [8] and Muraschi et al [14]. Today, two different systems of serological classifications of P. aeruginosa are in current use.…”