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Fluorescent antibody staining and agglutination reactions in Bordetella pertussis cultures
Abstract:
Eldering, Grace (Michigan Department of Health, Grand Rapids), Warren C. Eveland, and Pearl L. Kendrick. Fluorescent antibody staining and agglutination reactions in Bordetella pertussis cultures. J. Bacteriol. 83:745-749. 1962-Bordetella pertussis antisera produced with smooth cultures gave positive results in agglutination and fluorescent antibody (FA) tests with smooth B. pertussis cultures. Similar results were obtained with antisera produced with the related species B. parapertussis and B. bronchiseptica when each was tested with the respective homologous antigen. Cross reactions occurred with some of the antisera and heterologous antigens but a positive agglutination test was not always correlated with a positive FA reaction, and the reverse was also observed. Adsorbed B. pertussis antisera specific for factors 2, 3, 4, and 5 agglutinated appropriate B. pertussis cultures, but gave negative FA reactions. Factor 1 antiserum prepared by adsorption with heated (100 C) antigen gave positive results in both FA and agglutination tests. Rough B. pertussis cultures were inagglutinable, but were FA positive when tested with unadsorbed antiserum produced with either smooth or rough cultures. Rough cultures were FA negative with factor 1 serum. The results suggest that for B. pertussis different serum components may be responsible for agglutination and FA staining. The implications with respect to the protection-inducing antigen are discussed.
Insights
This study on Bordetella pertussis found that different components of antisera may cause agglutination and fluorescent antibody (FA) staining. These findings are crucial for understanding pertussis antigens and vaccine development.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Immunology
Background:
- Bordetella pertussis causes whooping cough.
- Accurate identification of B. pertussis strains is essential for diagnosis and control.
- Serological methods like agglutination and fluorescent antibody (FA) staining are used for bacterial identification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between agglutination and FA staining reactions in Bordetella pertussis.
- To determine if different antigenic components are responsible for these two serological reactions.
- To explore the implications for identifying protective antigens.
Main Methods:
- Production of antisera against smooth and rough B. pertussis cultures, as well as related species.
- Testing antisera with homologous and heterologous antigens using agglutination and FA staining.
- Adsorption of antisera to investigate specific antibody factors.
- Testing rough B. pertussis cultures with various antisera.
Main Results:
- Smooth B. pertussis antisera reacted positively with smooth cultures in both agglutination and FA tests.
- Cross-reactions were observed between related Bordetella species.
- Agglutination and FA reactions did not always correlate, suggesting different antigen-antibody interactions.
- Rough B. pertussis cultures were inagglutinable but FA positive with unadsorbed antisera.
- Factor 1 antiserum showed positive results in both tests, while antisera for factors 2-5 showed differential reactions.
Conclusions:
- Different components within B. pertussis antisera may be responsible for agglutination versus FA staining.
- These findings highlight the complexity of B. pertussis serology and antigenicity.
- Understanding these distinctions is important for identifying the protective antigen(s) of B. pertussis.
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