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Updated: Jun 19, 2026
06:08
Biophysical Characterization of Flagellar Motor Functions
Published on: January 18, 2017
OBSERVATIONS ON FLAGELLAR AND SOMATIC AGGLUTINATION.
1Department of Animal Pathology of The Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research, Princeton, N. J.
The Journal of Experimental Medicine
|October 30, 2009
Summary
Removing flagella from Salmonella alters agglutination properties, impacting antibody absorption and production. This research supports the flagellar antigen concept in bacterial immunology.
Area of Science:
- Bacteriology
- Immunology
- Microbial Antigenic Properties
Background:
- The flagellar antigen concept by Smith and Reagh is a key framework in understanding bacterial serology.
- Bacterial flagella play a significant role in immune responses and serological identification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of flagella removal on the agglutinability, absorptive capacity, and antigenic properties of Salmonella species.
- To compare these properties between motile (Salmonella) and non-motile (Staphylococcus) bacteria.
Main Methods:
- Comparing whole, shaken, and heated bacterial suspensions of Salmonella species.
- Assessing agglutinability, absorptive capacity, and antigenic properties using antisera.
- Analyzing culture filtrates for soluble precipitable material.
Main Results:
- Flagella removal (shaking or heating) altered Salmonella agglutinability, preventing floccular reactions with whole antiserum.
- Deflagellated bacteria could absorb some flocculating agglutinin but could not produce it upon injection.
- Non-motile Staphylococcus showed no differences in properties after similar treatments.
- Soluble somatic material was present in culture filtrates, with heated flagellar suspensions also yielding soluble material.
Conclusions:
- Results generally support the flagellar antigen concept.
- Flagella are crucial for specific agglutination reactions and the production of certain agglutinins.
- Soluble antigens, both somatic and flagellar, are present and contribute to serological findings.
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