Skip to main content
Infection and Immunity logoLink to Infection and Immunity
. 1980 May;28(2):451–458. doi: 10.1128/iai.28.2.451-458.1980

Type-specific antigens of group A Neisseria meningitidis: lipopolysaccharide and heat-modifiable outer membrane proteins.

W D Zollinger, R E Mandrell
PMCID: PMC550956  PMID: 6156902

Abstract

The solid-phase radioimmunoassay inhibition method was used to analyze the noncapsular surface antigens of group A Neisseria meningitidis for type specificity. By use of antisera prepared against group A strains, three serologically distinct lipopolysaccharide antigens and five outer membrane protein antigens were identified among group A strains from a variety of geographical origins. Two of the lipopolysaccharide antigens were unique to group A strains while the third was similar to those on strains of other meningococcal serogroups. Fractionation of outer membrane proteins in the presence of 2% sodium deoxycholate followed by quantitative inhibition of the typing reactions with the subfractions revealed that the protein responsible for type specificity was not the principal outer membrane protein, but, most likely, the 31,000-dalton, heat-modifiable outer membrane protein. Thus, although group A strains may share a common principal outer membrane protein, typing is feasible using other surface antigens. In a survey of 82 group A strains, 93% were typable with respect to outer membrane proteins.

Full text

PDF
451

Images in this article

Selected References

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

  1. Frasch C. E., Gotschlich E. C. An outer membrane protein of Neisseria meningitidis group B responsible for serotype specificity. J Exp Med. 1974 Jul 1;140(1):87–104. doi: 10.1084/jem.140.1.87. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Frasch C. E., McNelis R. M., Gotschlich E. C. Strain-specific variation in the protein and lipopolysaccharide composition of the group B meningococcal outer membrane. J Bacteriol. 1976 Aug;127(2):973–981. doi: 10.1128/jb.127.2.973-981.1976. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Frasch C. E., Mocca L. F. Heat-modifiable outer membrane proteins of Neisseria meningitidis and their organization within the membrane. J Bacteriol. 1978 Dec;136(3):1127–1134. doi: 10.1128/jb.136.3.1127-1134.1978. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Frasch C. E. Role of protein serotype antigens in protection against disease due to Neisseria meningitidis. J Infect Dis. 1977 Aug;136 (Suppl):S84–S90. doi: 10.1093/infdis/136.supplement.s84. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Garten W., Hindennach I., Henning U. The major proteins of the Escherichia coli outer cell envelope membrane. Characterization of proteins II* and III, comparison of all proteins. Eur J Biochem. 1975 Nov 1;59(1):215–221. doi: 10.1111/j.1432-1033.1975.tb02444.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. 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]
  7. Goldschneider I., Gotschlich E. C., Artenstein M. S. Human immunity to the meningococcus. II. Development of natural immunity. J Exp Med. 1969 Jun 1;129(6):1327–1348. doi: 10.1084/jem.129.6.1327. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Heckels J. E. The surface of Neisseria gonorrhoeae: isolation of the major components of the outer membrane. J Gen Microbiol. 1977 Apr;99(2):333–341. doi: 10.1099/00221287-99-2-333. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Kasper D. L., Winkelhake J. L., Brandt B. L., Artenstein M. S. Antigenic specificity of bactericidal antibodies in antisera to Neisseria meningitidis. J Infect Dis. 1973 Apr;127(4):378–387. doi: 10.1093/infdis/127.4.378. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. LOWRY O. H., ROSEBROUGH N. J., FARR A. L., RANDALL R. J. Protein measurement with the Folin phenol reagent. J Biol Chem. 1951 Nov;193(1):265–275. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Maloney P. C., Schneider H., Brandt B. L. Production and degradation of serogroup B Neisseria meningitidis polysaccharide. Infect Immun. 1972 Nov;6(5):657–658. doi: 10.1128/iai.6.5.657-661.1972. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Quan A. L., Sippel J. E. Evaluation of bactericidal assay in serotyping Neisseria meningitidis group A. Can J Microbiol. 1979 Aug;25(8):929–931. doi: 10.1139/m79-139. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Sippel J. E., Quan A. Homogeneity of protein serotype antigens in Neisseria meningitidis group A. Infect Immun. 1977 May;16(2):623–627. doi: 10.1128/iai.16.2.623-627.1977. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Zollinger W. D., Dalrymple J. M., Artenstein M. S. Analysis of parameters affecting the solid phase radioimmunoassay quantitation of antibody to meningococcal antigens. J Immunol. 1976 Nov;117(5 PT2):1788–1798. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Zollinger W. D., Kasper D. L., Veltri B. J., Artenstein M. S. Isolation and characterization of a native cell wall complex from Neisseria meningitidis. Infect Immun. 1972 Nov;6(5):835–851. doi: 10.1128/iai.6.5.835-851.1972. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Zollinger W. D., Mandrell R. E., Griffiss J. M., Altieri P., Berman S. Complex of meningococcal group B polysaccharide and type 2 outer membrane protein immunogenic in man. J Clin Invest. 1979 May;63(5):836–848. doi: 10.1172/JCI109383. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Zollinger W. D., Mandrell R. E. Outer-membrane protein and lipopolysaccharide serotyping of Neisseria meningitidis by inhibition of a solid-phase radioimmunoassay. Infect Immun. 1977 Nov;18(2):424–433. doi: 10.1128/iai.18.2.424-433.1977. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

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

RESOURCES