This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Benson, R F Articles by Harrell, W K Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Benson, R F Articles by Harrell, W K

Factors influencing the reactivity of Legionella antigens in immunofluorescence tests.

ABSTRACT

We examined several factors for their effects on the serological reactivity of Legionella antigens used for direct or indirect fluorescent-antibody tests. These factors included media, methods of killing, strain differences, and the nature of the reactivity with diverse human sera. The maximum serological reactivities were obtained with charcoal-yeast extract agar; the relative antigenicity of cells grown on a chemically defined medium could be fourfold less than those grown on the charcoal-yeast extract agar. Cells grown at 25 degrees C showed only small antigenic differences from those grown at 35 degrees C but had better morphological and staining characteristics. Cells killed by 1% Formalin or 37% Formalin vapors showed a 20% less relative antigenicity than those killed by heat, but their cell walls stained more clearly and they had fewer aberrations. As tested with several human sera, cells of Philadelphia 1 showed great variation in relative antigenicity with changes in media or methods of preparation; Bellingham 1 was quite stable under these same conditions. The data suggest that Bellingham 1 had serogroup 1-specific antigens, reactive with human sera, which were not present in Philadelphia 1.