Antibody-coated protein A-bearing Staphylococcus aureus: a versatile and stable immune reagent.

The human beta2-microglobulin antigen-antibody system was used as a model to illustrate the versatility of a microradioimmunoassay technique using protein A-bearing Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I strain (SACI) bacteria as a non-specific immunoadsorbent in place of a second antibody. Experimental conditions are described for a sensitive microassay which makes it possible to process large numbers of samples more rapidly and with minimum handling. Furthermore, SACI coated with specific antibodies by mixing with unfractionated antisera are a versatile reagent not only for radioimmunoassays but also for use as molecular probes to characterize cell surface antigens. Antibody-coated SACI could be lyophilized and proved extremely stable in storage thus providing a unique advantage for use in binding inhibition assays and as versatile reagent for clinical and investigative immunology.