Skip to main content
PMC home page
Infection and Immunity logoLink to Infection and Immunity
. 1972 Aug;6(2):127–133. doi: 10.1128/iai.6.2.127-133.1972

Classification of Neisseria meningitidis Group B into Distinct Serotypes II. Extraction of Type-Specific Antigens for Serotyping by Precipitin Techniques

Carl E Frasch 1, S Stephen Chapman 1
PMCID: PMC422504  PMID: 4631911

Abstract

Over 10 distinct serotypes of group B Neisseria meningitidis have been found to date by using a sensitive microbactericidal assay developed by the authors. The serotype antigens have now been extracted by hot acid or saline extraction procedures. It was found that these extracted serotype antigens may be used in a simple capillary precipitin method. This method uses unadsorbed, undiluted rabbit antisera. In the capillary precipitin method a 3+ to 4+ reaction was considered significant. The microbactericidal assay and capillary precipitin methods for serotyping group B meningococci show excellent agreement. Group B meningococci were also serotyped by an agar gel double diffusion technique. The latter technique conserves reagents and has the further advantage that it does not show the minor cross-reactions observed in the capillary precipitin method. Thus two simple, reproducible methods for serological typing of group B meningococci have been developed. These methods developed for the serological typing of group B meningococci will aid in epidemiological studies of meningococcal disease. They may also be of value for selecting suitable strains for vaccine production.

Full text

PDF
127

Images in this article

131Image
on p.131
131Image
on p.131
131Image
on p.131
132Image
on p.132

Selected References

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

  1. Branham S. E. Value of Typing Meningococci. Am J Public Health Nations Health. 1945 Mar;35(3):233–238. doi: 10.2105/ajph.35.3.233. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Counts G. W., Seeley L., Beaty H. N. Identification of an epidemic strain of Neisseria meningitidis by bacteriocin typing. J Infect Dis. 1971 Jul;124(1):26–32. doi: 10.1093/infdis/124.1.26. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Frasch C. E., Chapman S. S. Classification of Neisseria meningitidis group B into distinct serotypes. I. Serological typing by a microbactericidal method. Infect Immun. 1972 Jan;5(1):98–102. doi: 10.1128/iai.5.1.98-102.1972. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Gold R., Winklehake J. L., Mars R. S., Artenstein M. S. Identification of an epidemic strain of group C Neisseria meningitidis by bactericidal serotyping. J Infect Dis. 1971 Dec;124(6):593–597. doi: 10.1093/infdis/124.6.593. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Gold R., Wyle F. A. New Classification of Neisseria meningitidis by Means of Bactericidal Reactions. Infect Immun. 1970 May;1(5):479–484. doi: 10.1128/iai.1.5.479-484.1970. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Gotschlich E. C., Goldschneider I., Artenstein M. S. Human immunity to the meningococcus. IV. Immunogenicity of group A and group C meningococcal polysaccharides in human volunteers. J Exp Med. 1969 Jun 1;129(6):1367–1384. doi: 10.1084/jem.129.6.1367. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Gotschlich E. C., Liu T. Y., Artenstein M. S. Human immunity to the meningococcus. 3. Preparation and immunochemical properties of the group A, group B, and group C meningococcal polysaccharides. J Exp Med. 1969 Jun 1;129(6):1349–1365. doi: 10.1084/jem.129.6.1349. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. JYSSUM K. Comparison of indirect hemagglutination and gel precipitation in three meningococcal types. Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand. 1958;42(3):216–227. doi: 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1958.tb01734.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Roberts R. B. The interaction in vitro between group B meningococci and rabbit polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Demonstration of type specific opsonins and bactericidins. J Exp Med. 1967 Nov 1;126(5):795–818. doi: 10.1084/jem.126.5.795. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. SLATERUS K. W. Serological typing of meningococci by means of micro-precipitation. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek. 1961;27:305–315. doi: 10.1007/BF02538460. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. VANPEENEN P. F. SECOND ATTACKS OF MENINGOCOCCAL MENINGITIS. Calif Med. 1965 Aug;103:132–134. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Vedros N. A., Hunter D. H., Rust J. H., Jr Studies on immunity in meningococal meningitis. Mil Med. 1966 Nov;131(11):1413–1417. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Infection and Immunity are provided here courtesy of American Society for Microbiology (ASM)

RESOURCES