Abstract
A modification of the agar-gel precipitation inhibition technique of Thorne and Belton for detecting anthrax antibodies reduces inconsistency of visually determined end points on the same sera observed by different technicians. Determination of the minimal reacting concentrations of the anthrax antigen and antibody reagents, modifications of the visualization apparatus, methods for combining reagents, and length of incubation periods contribute to the ease of the end-point determinations and the uniformity of results. When compared with the previous technique, the modified procedure is less time-consuming while retaining satisfactory reproducibility, simplicity, specificity, and sensitivity.
Full text
PDF
Images in this article
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- MOLNAR D. M. Separation of the toxin of Bacillus cereus into two components and nonidentity of the toxin with phospholipase. J Bacteriol. 1962 Jul;84:147–153. doi: 10.1128/jb.84.1.147-153.1962. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- NORMAN P. S., RAY J. G., Jr, BRACHMAN P. S., PLOTKIN S. A., PAGANO J. S. Serologic testing for anthrax antibodies in workers in a goat hair processing mill. Am J Hyg. 1960 Jul;72:32–37. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a120132. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- OUCHTERLONY O. Antigen-antibody reactions in gels. IV. Types of reactions in coordinated systems of diffusion. Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand. 1953;32(2):230–240. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- STRANGE R. E., THORNE C. B. Further purification studies on the protective antigen of Bacillus anthracis produced in vitro. J Bacteriol. 1958 Aug;76(2):192–202. doi: 10.1128/jb.76.2.192-202.1958. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- THORNE C. B., BELTON F. C. An agar-diffusion method for titrating Bacillus anthracis immunizing antigen and its application to a study of antigen production. J Gen Microbiol. 1957 Oct;17(2):505–516. doi: 10.1099/00221287-17-2-505. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- THORNE C. B. Biochemical properties of virulent and avirulent strains of Bacillus anthracis. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1960 Nov 21;88:1024–1033. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1960.tb20094.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- WRIGHT G. G., GREEN T. W., KANODE R. G., Jr Studies on immunity in anthrax. V. Immunizing activity of alum-precipitated protective antigen. J Immunol. 1954 Dec;73(6):387–391. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]