Immunochemistry of an acidic antigen isolated from a Staphylococcus aureus

Staphylococcus aureus, strain 7007, was shown to possess an anti-phagocytic surface antigen. This surface antigen was separated from the species-specific teichoic acid by a combination of DEAE-cellulose chromatography and Bio-Gel filtration. Chemical analyses indicated that the 7007 surface antigen consisted of aminomannuronic acid and fucosamine. Immunochemical analyses suggested that this polymer, although consisting of the same components as the staphylococcal T-antigen described by Wu and Park was, in fact, immunologically distinct from the T-antigen. Antibodies directed against the surface antigen were isolated from anti-7007 rabbit serum by affinity chromatography. These antibodies were shown to belong to the IgG class of immunoglobulins and were effective in enhancing in vitro phagocytosis of 7007 cells by polymorphonuclear leukocytes.