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. 1979 Nov;26(2):698–704. doi: 10.1128/iai.26.2.698-704.1979

Serospecificity and opsonic activity of antisera to Legionella pneumophila.

W Johnson, E Pesanti, J Elliott
PMCID: PMC414672  PMID: 121114

Abstract

A high-molecular-weight surface component (F-1 fraction) has been isolated from the four serogroups of Legionella pneumophila. Antibody raised against live organisms was found by microagglutination assay to be specific for the homologous serogroup. Agglutinating activity of antiserum was markedly diminished after absorption with the homologous, but not heterologous, F-1 fraction. In addition, it was found that L. pneumophila organisms were not interiorized by rat alveolar macrophages or mouse peritoneal macrophages in the absence of antiserum, whereas homologous antiserum effectively opsonized the organisms. The opsonizing activity of serogroup-specific antisera was eliminated by absorption of the antisera with the homologous, but not heterologous, F-1 fraction. These data indicate that the serogroup-specific antigen of L. pneumophila resides in the F-1 fraction and that antibody to the F-1 fraction is required for phagocytosis of L. pneumophila by mammalian phagocytes.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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