[Use of an immunodiffusion analysis method in micrococcus species determination]

Eight species of the genus Micrococcus were studied in details for their antigenic specificities with the aid of the created bank of specific polyclonal antisera to the type strains of Micrococcus Cohn 1872--M. luteus CCM 169, M. varians CCM 884, M. roseus CCM 679 and M. nishinomiyaensis CCM 2140. Immunochemical analysis of 146 strains isolated from various natural and industrial substrata, as well as of 31 collection strains allowed us to reveal antigenic relatedness and distinctions between studied cultures and to accomplish taxonomic distribution of various Micrococcus species. By the immunoduffusion analysis the intraspecific antigenic relationship of M. roseus and M. varians was found, as well as significant antigenic heterogeneity of M. luteus. The results of antigenic analysis of micrococci may be used in the collection work and for the express-diagnostics of these microorganisms.