Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Immunogenicity of some common thermolabile surface antigens ofEscherichia coli

  • Published:
Medical Microbiology and Immunology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The development in rabbits of antibodies against common thermolabileEscherichia coli surface antigens — and against O and K antigens — was investigated. Three strains, E3b (O75:K95:H5), E56b (O8:K27:H-), and H61 (O45:K1:H10), and five rabbits per strain were used. Immunization was carried out by routine procedures using non-heated whole cell vaccines. Homologous and heterologous reactions were recorded. Bacterial agglutination showed no great differences between homologous antisera. Maximum agglutination titers were reached after three immunizations, i.e., 12 days after the first immunization.

The development of antibodies to the many single common and specific antigens was followed by examination in crossed immunoelectrophoresis (CIE). Indication of immune tolerance of polysaccharide K27 antigen was found. The finding of pre-immune antibody and the rapid response to immunization indicate that many of the reactions recorded should be regarded as secondary responses. Several antigens in the three strains were identical or serologically related. The common cross-reacting thermolabile surface antigens showed similar electrophoretic mobility in the three strains. Some rabbits were found to be overall good producers of antibodies and some were poor. The occurrence or absence of pre-immune antibody to common antigens could not be used to select the good antibody producers. It is suggested that the immune response to the common surface antigens that could be reckoned as outer membrane proteins may influence the relationship between host and bacterium.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Axelsen N (1973) Intermediate gel in crossed and in fused rocket immunoelectrophoresis. Scand J Immunol 2, Suppl. 1:71–77

    Google Scholar 

  2. Brown GTH, Jones PW (1980) Crossed immunoelectrophoresis and crossed-line immunoelectrophoresis ofSalmonella dublin antigens. J Gen Microbiol 116:315–322

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Duguid JP, Campell I (1969) Antigens of the type-1 fimbriae ofSalmonella and other enterobacteria. J Med Microbiol 2:535–553

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Garten W, Henning U (1974) Cell envelope and shape ofE. coli K12 isolation and preliminary characterization of the major ghost membrane proteins. Eur J Biochem 47:343–352

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Geyer R, Galanos C, Westphal O, Golecki JL (1979) A lipopolysaccharide-binding cell-surface protein fromSalmonella minnesota. Eur J Biochem 98:27–38

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Gillies RR, Duguid JP (1958) The fimbrial antigens ofSbigella flexneri. J Hyg (Lond) 56:303–318

    Google Scholar 

  7. Goebel WF (1963) Colanic acid. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 49:464–471

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Guine PAM, Jansen WH (1979) Behaviour ofEscherichia coli antigens K88ab, K88ac and K88ad in immunoelectrophoresis, double diffusion and hemagglutination. Infect Immun 23:700–705

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Hoff GE, Høiby N (1978) Cross-reactions betweenNeisseria meningitidis and twenty-seven other bacterial species. Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand (B) 86:87–92

    Google Scholar 

  10. Hofstra H, Dankert J (1980) Major outer membrane proteins: Common antigens in enterobacterial species. J Gen Microbiol 119:123–131

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Kaijser B, Oiling S (1973) Experimental hematogenous pyelonephritis due toEscherichia coli in rabbits; the antibody response and its protective capacity. J Infect Dis 128:41–49

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Kaijser B (1975) Immunological studies of an antigen common to many Gram-negative bacteria with special reference toE. coli. Int Arch Allergy Appl Immunol 48:72–81

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Kaijser B, Jodal U, Hanson LÅ (1973) Studies on antibody response and tolerance toE. coli K antigens in immunized rabbits and in children with urinary tract infection. Int Arch Allergy Appl Immunol 44:260–273

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Kauffmann F (1935) Über einen neuen serologischen Formenwechsel der Typhusbacillen. Z Hyg 116:617–651

    Google Scholar 

  15. Krøll J (1973) Tandem-crossed immunoelectrophoresis. Scand J Immunol 2, Suppl 1:57–59

    Google Scholar 

  16. Krøll J (1973) Crossed line immunoelectrophoresis. Scand J Immunol 2, Suppl 1:79–81

    Google Scholar 

  17. Kunin CM, Beard MV, Halmagyi N (1962) Evidence for a common hapten associated with endotoxin fractions ofE. coli and otherEnterobacteriaceae. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 111:160–166

    Google Scholar 

  18. Kuusi N, Nurminen M, Saxen H, Valtonen M, Mäkelä PH (1979) Immunization with major outer membrane proteins in experimental salmonellosis of mice. Infect Immun 25:857–862

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Larsson P, Hanson LÅ, Kaijser B (1973) Immunodiffusion studies in someProteus strains. Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand (B) 81:641–649

    Google Scholar 

  20. Maarten JD van Tol, Hofstra H, Dankert J (1979) Major outer membrane proteins ofE. coli analysed by crossed immuno-electrophoresis. FEMS Microbiol Lett 5:349–352

    Google Scholar 

  21. Mayer H, Schmidt G (1979) Chemistry and biology of the enterobacterial common antigen (ECA). Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 85:99–153

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Ørskov F, Ørskov I, Jann B, Jann K (1971) Immunoelectrophoretic patterns of extracts from allEscherichia coli O and K antigen test strains. Correlation with pathogenicity. Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand (B) 79:142–152

    Google Scholar 

  23. Ørskov F, Ørskov I (1972) Immunoelectrophoretic patterns of extracts fromEscherichia coli O antigen test strains O1–0157. Examination in homologous O and OK sera. Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand (B) 80:905–910

    Google Scholar 

  24. Ørskov F, Ørskov I, Sutton A, Schneerson R, Lin W, Egan W, Hoff GE, Robbins JB (1977) Form variation inEscherichia coli Kl determined by O acetylation of the capsular polysaccharide. J Exp Med 149:669–685

    Google Scholar 

  25. Ørskov I (1956) Immunological paralysis induced in rabbits by a heavily capsulated Klebsiella strain. Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand 38:375–384

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Ørskov I, Ørskov F, Birch-Andersen A (1980) Comparison ofEscherichia coli fimbrial antigen F7 with type 1 fimbriae. Infect Immun 27:657–666

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Ørskov I, Ørskov F, Jann B, Jann K (1977) Serology, chemistry and Genetics of O and K antigens ofEscherichia coli. Bacteriol Rev 41:667–710

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Paakkanen J, Gotschlich EC, Mäkelä PH (1979) Protein K: A new major outer membrane protein found in capsulatedEscherichia coli. J Bacteriol 139:835–841

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Reissbrodt R, Eichstädt M, Seltmann G (1979) Das anodisch wandernde thermolabile Antigen (ATA) von gram-negativen Bakterien. Sein Antikörperbildungsvermögen in Kaninchen und Mäusen. Z Allg Microbiol 19:53–55

    Google Scholar 

  30. Roitt I (1974) Essential Immunology, 2nd Ed. Blackwell scientific Publications, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  31. Schlecht S, Westphal O (1966) Wachstum und Lipopolysaccharide (O Antigen)-gehalt von Salmonellen bei Züchtung auf Agarnährboden. Zentralbl Bakteriol (Orig A) 200:241–259

    Google Scholar 

  32. Schlecht S, Westphal O (1968) Über die Herstellung von Antiseren gegen die somatischen (O-) Antigene von Salmonellen. Zentralbl Bakteriol (Orig A) 205:487–501

    Google Scholar 

  33. Seltmann G, Reissbrodt R (1979) Das anodisch wandernde thermostabile Antigen (ATA) von gram-negativen Bakterien. Schutz von Mäusen durch Immunisierung mit ATA. Acta Microbiol Acad Sci Hung 26:55–62

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Seltmann G (1971) Untersuchungen zur Antigenstruktur von Shigellen. IV. Isolierung und Reinigung eines thermolabilen Antigens vonSh. sonnei. Zentralbl Bakteriol (Orig A) 219:324–335

    Google Scholar 

  35. Sompolinsky D, Hertz JB, Høiby N, Jensen K, Mansa B, Samra Z (1980) An antigen common to a wide range of bacteria. I. The isolation of a “common antigen” fromPseudomonas aeruginosa. Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand (B) 88:143–149

    Google Scholar 

  36. Svendsen PJ, Axelsen NH (1972) A modified antigen-antibody crossed electrophoresis characterizing the specificity and titre of human precipitins againstCandida albicans. J Immunol Methods 1:169–176

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Taplits M, Michael JG (1979) Immune response toEscherichia coli B surface antigens. Infect Immun 25:943–945

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Weeke B (1973) General remarks on principles, equipment, reagents and procedures. Scand J Immunol 2, Suppl 1:15–35

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Statens Seruminstitut, Collaborative Centre for Reference and Research on Escherichia (WHO), Amager Boulevard 80, DK-2300, Copenhagen S, Denmark

    F. Ørskov, J. C. Larsen & I. Ørskov

Authors
  1. F. Ørskov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. C. Larsen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. I. Ørskov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ørskov, F., Larsen, J.C. & Ørskov, I. Immunogenicity of some common thermolabile surface antigens ofEscherichia coli . Med Microbiol Immunol 170, 117–133 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02122676

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02122676

Keywords

Search

Navigation