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05:59
Determining the Reactivity and Titre of Serum using a Haemagglutination Assay
Published on: January 29, 2010
CHEMICAL STUDIES ON BACTERIAL AGGLUTINATION : II. THE IDENTITY OF PRECIPITIN AND AGGLUTININ
1Laboratories of the Departments of Medicine and Biological Chemistry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, and the Presbyterian Hospital, New York.
The Journal of Experimental Medicine
|October 30, 2009
Summary
Researchers quantified specific polysaccharides in pneumococcus variants using an absolute, quantitative agglutinin method. They demonstrated that type-specific agglutinin and precipitin antibodies are identical in Type I antipneumococcus horse serum.
Area of Science:
- Immunochemistry
- Microbiology
- Bacteriology
Background:
- Pneumococcus variants possess specific polysaccharides that are targets for antibody detection.
- Quantitative methods are crucial for precisely measuring antibody levels and their interactions.
- Distinguishing between different antibody functions, like agglutination and precipitation, is important in serological studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the presence or absence of small amounts of specific polysaccharide in pneumococcus variants.
- To develop a technique for removing group-specific antibody from antipneumococcus horse serum.
- To provide evidence for the identity of type-specific anticarbohydrate agglutinin and precipitin in Type I antipneumococcus horse serum.
Main Methods:
- Utilized an absolute, quantitative agglutinin method for polysaccharide detection.
- Developed and applied a technique for the selective removal of group-specific antibodies from horse serum.
- Compared the quantitative levels of type-specific anticarbohydrate agglutinin and precipitin in Type I antipneumococcus horse serum.
Main Results:
- The quantitative agglutinin method successfully detected specific polysaccharides in pneumococcus variants.
- A method for removing group-specific antibodies from antipneumococcus horse serum was successfully established.
- Type I antipneumococcus horse serum showed identical amounts of type-specific anticarbohydrate agglutinin and precipitin, with parallel quantitative reductions in both.
Conclusions:
- The absolute, quantitative agglutinin method is effective for detecting specific polysaccharides in pneumococcus.
- The study provides strong evidence for the identity of type-specific agglutinin and precipitin antibodies.
- Slightly higher agglutinin levels in purified antibodies may indicate antibody alteration during purification.
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