Serology of Neisseria Gonorrhoeae. Demonstration of Strain‐Specific Antigens by Immunoelectrophoresis, Immunofluorescence And Co‐Agglutination Techniques

Abstract

Among a group of four selected strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, common and strain‐specific antigens were demonstrated by immunoelectrophoresis, indirect immunofluorescence (IFL) and co‐agglutination (COA). In preparations of ultrasonically‐disrupted organisms, the strain‐specific antigens appeared in crossed‐line immunoelectrophoresis (C‐LIE) with antigen containing intermediate agar get as a two‐peak precipitin line, one peak close to the antigen well, the other towards the anode. A similar pattern was found for each of the four strains studied. These strain‐specific precipitin lines were also identified in rocket‐line immunoelectrophoresis (R‐LIE) tests, which were found useful for comparative studies. Using whole cells, strain‐specific antigens were also demonstrated by COA and IFL tests with the use od cross‐absorbed antibodies. The results corresponded to those obtained with C‐LIE and R‐LIE. Immunosorption experiments indicated identity between the strain‐specific antigens shown by COA tests and those demonstrated by C‐LIE and R‐LIE tests.

SEROLOGY OF NEISSERIA GONORRHOEAE. CHARACTERIZATION OF RABBIT HYPERIMMUNE ANTISERA BY LINE‐ROCKET IMMUNOELECTROPHORESIS FOR USE IN COAGGLUTINATION

“…To cover all combinations with 10 strains and their corresponding antisera, 100 absorptions and 1000 tests would be required if the relationship was unknown. However, we have shown in a previous work that the results of COA tests coincided well with those obtained by rocket-line immunoelectrophoresis (8).…”

“…We have showed previously that COA was a suitable method for demonstrating both ))strainspecific(( and cross-reacting antigens among gonococcal strains (8). These studies were extended in the present work with antigonococcal antibodies from ten rabbits immunized with the live S-strains 14984, 15057, 15000, I I376 and 14190 (two rabbits for each strain).…”

“…We showed previously that there was excellent agreement between results obtained with the COA method with cross-absorbed antibodies and crossed and rocket-line immunoelectrophoresis with antigen containing intermediate agar gel (8). A modification of this technique, which we called line-rocket immunoelectrophoresis, was developed, which when using a homologous antigen-antibody system permitted comparison of the antigenic relationship between more than 20 strains.…”

“…It was noteworthy that whole cells heated at 100 "C were more reactive than those untreated or formalin-fixed. We have shown previously that, for example, untreated cells from T4 colony morphology types might even be inagglutinable, though not after heat treatment (8).…”

“…E-5, N-10, S-I 2 and U-14, T3-like for B-2 and G-7, and T5like for X-9 (3). They were selected and recultured daily over a two-week period before freezing at -70 OC in narrow tubes from which small samples could be thawed when needed (8). Golden brown or dark brown colonies of the various types were preferred for use in the subsequent experiments.…”