Agglutinin-adsorption analysis of Vibrio fetus.

Reich, C. V. (Pennsylvania State University, University Park), C. E. Heist, and H. W. Dunne. Agglutinin-adsorption analysis of Vibrio fetus. J. Bacteriol. 82:210-214. 1961.-All pathogenic strains of Vibrio fetus are apparently members of a single serotype. Within this broad grouping, it was possible to define the relationship of certain selected strains by a system of complete reciprocal adsorption and cross agglutination. Formalin treated suspensions of V. fetus, and controlled titer homologous rabbit antisera were used. The results of a set of reactions, involving five strains, were analyzed as a complete reaction pattern. A system of 12 antigens and 4 haptens, each alphabetically characterized, was necessary to reproduce schematically the experimentally obtained reaction pattern. One of the antigens, designated as antigen A, was a somatic antigen present on every strain of V. fetus examined. Evidence indicates that this antigen represented about 5% of the total antigenic area of the cell surface.