Insolubilized Salmonella lipopolysaccharides as efficient immunoadsorbents for the preparation of specific Salmonella antisera.

Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) derived from a single Salmonella serotype or a combination of serotypes were submitted to insolubilization by means of glutaraldehyde. Cross-linked LPS proved to be efficient immunoadsorbents. They were employed for the removal of cross-reacting anti-O antibodies from various Salmonella antisera. LPS immunoadsorbents offer a number of advantages over bacterial cells concerning the preparation of specific bacterial antisera: they regain the original antibody binding capacity after tryptic digestion of the anti-LPS antibodies adsorbed and can be repeatedly used (15 times at least), adsorption of the sera is complete within 30 min, and the procedure is simplified. Prolonged storage (over 3 years) has no deleterious effect on the adsorption properties of the immunoadsorbents. Various applications of LPS immunoadsorbents are described.