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. 1985 Apr;48(1):23–28. doi: 10.1128/iai.48.1.23-28.1985

Recognition of serogroup A Neisseria meningitidis serotype antigens by human antisera.

R J Sugasawara
PMCID: PMC261908  PMID: 3920147

Abstract

The antigens of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup A which were recognized by human antisera were identified by Western blot and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay techniques. The components of six prototype strains used for serotyping serogroup A meningococci were resolved by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and then transferred to nitrocellulose for immunoperoxidase staining with sera collected from 10 acute-phase and 14 convalescent-phase patients. Six acute-phase sera detected six major antigens having apparent molecular weights between 14,000 and 82,000. In addition to recognizing these antigens, the convalescent-phase sera detected a protease-sensitive antigen with an apparent molecular weight of 20,000 for one strain and 27,000 for five strains, lipopolysaccharide, and the heat-modifiable proteins. The sera recognized lipopolysaccharide in a serotype-specific manner, whereas their reactions with the heat-modifiable protein were not serotype specific. Convalescent-phase sera recognized components from eight meningococcal serogroups. The concentrations of immunoglobulin G directed to capsular polysaccharide were determined by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; seven acute-phase sera had less than 0.39 micrograms of antibody per ml, whereas the average concentration in convalescent-phase sera was 3.22 micrograms/ml and the range was 0.40 to 7.50 micrograms/ml.

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Selected References

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