Specific Antigens of Lactobacillus acidophilus

Abstract

337Antigens specific for Lactobacillus acidophilus were investigated by double immunodiffusion in agar-gel. Antigenic materials were extracted from whole bacteria and some walls with cold trichloroacetic acid. Antisera were prepared by intravenous injection into rabbits of suspensions of whole organisms in solutions of bovine serum albumin, which had been heated and then washed. Four specific antigens were found as precipitinogens and denoted as antigens 11, 12, 13 and 14. Of 43 strains of L. acidophilus studied, 33 strains possessed antigen 11, six strains antigen 12, two strains antigen 13 and two strains antigen 14. Sugar compositions of wall preparations were analysed in an attempt to characterize the determinants of antigens 11 and 12. The walls contained glucose, galactose, hexosamine and sometimes glycerol, but no rhamnose was found. It was considered that a-glucopyranose was the major component of the determinant of antigen 11 since trehalose and maltose significantly inhibited the reaction between antibody I I and its antigen; the determinant of antigen 12 was not clarified.

Acidophilus milk products: Manufacture and therapeutics

“…Therefore, Johnson et al (28) suggested that L. acidophilus strains belonging to group A-l (17) be selected for dietary preparations on the basis of high |8-galactosidase (EC 3.2.1.23) activity, rapid acid production, growth and other desirable traits. Investigations based on agglutination tests (29), cell wall antigen (30,31), and electrophoretic and antigenic characteristics of D-and Llactate dehydrogenases (LDH) (32,33) 26) activities of this organism. Beta-galactosidase is required to sever the /3(1-4) linkage in lactose, whereas /3-fructofuranosidase is needed to sever the ß(l-2) linkage in sucrose.…”

Immunotherapeutic effect of the lactobacillus vaccine, Solco Trichovac, in trichomoniasis is not mediated by antibodies cross reacting with Trichomonas vaginalis.

“…This finding confirms the low immunogenicity of lactobacilli. 21 As both L acidophilus and T vaginalis occur in numerous serotypes,2 123 similarity of the two organisms seems to be very unlikely. Moreover, Doederlein flora comprise several species of lactobacillus, with interspecific as well as intraspecific serological differences.…”