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 Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Helbig, J. H. Articles by Luck, P. C. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Helbig, J. H. Articles by Luck, P. C.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 11 1997, 2841-2845, Vol 35, No. 11
Copyright © 1997 by the American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.

Antigenic lipopolysaccharide components of Legionella pneumophila recognized by monoclonal antibodies: possibilities and limitations for division of the species into serogroups [In Process Citation]

JH Helbig, JB Kurtz, MC Pastoris, C Pelaz and PC Luck
Institut Medizinische Mikrobiologie und Hygiene, Universitatsklinikum TU Dresden, Germany.

Legionella pneumophila accounts for the majority of cases of Legionnaires' disease. By using rabbit antisera, the species has been divided into 14 numbered and 1 unnumbered serogroups. To recognize the antigenic diversity of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) responsible for this classification, the Dresden Legionella LPS MAb panel, containing 98 monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), was created. Each serogroup reference strain possesses at least one specific epitope not found on any other reference strain and therefore designated the serogroup-specific epitope. When the appropriate MAbs were used for serotyping of 1,064 human and environmental isolates, 1,045 (98%) could be placed into the known serogroups. In most cases (97%), this was in agreement with the polyclonal typing. Of the 29 isolates that showed strong cross- reactivities with the rabbit antiserum panel, 11 could be typed easily by MAbs; for the remaining 18, however, only serogroup-cross-reactive epitopes could be determined. Below the serogroup level, monoclonal subtypes were found for 11 serogroups. Altogether, the Dresden Legionella LPS MAb panel was able to divide the 1,064 isolates tested into 64 phenons, indicating its usefulness for both serogrouping and subgrouping of L. pneumophila strains. In order to compare the identities of patient and environmental isolates, testing their reactivity with MAbs should be the first step, especially if large numbers of colonies are to be typed. Only in cases of identical patterns are the more time consuming and expensive genetic fingerprints necessary. Moreover, the MAbs can also be used for specific antigen detection in respiratory specimens on the serogroup or subgroup level.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Helbig, J. H., Luck, P. C., Kunz, B., Bubert, A. (2006). Evaluation of the Duopath Legionella Lateral Flow Assay for Identification of Legionella pneumophila and Legionella Species Culture Isolates.. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 72: 4489-4491 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Fernandez-Moreira, E., Helbig, J. H., Swanson, M. S. (2006). Membrane Vesicles Shed by Legionella pneumophila Inhibit Fusion of Phagosomes with Lysosomes.. Infect. Immun. 74: 3285-3295 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Aurell, H., Catala, P., Farge, P., Wallet, F., Le Brun, M., Helbig, J. H., Jarraud, S., Lebaron, P. (2004). Rapid Detection and Enumeration of Legionella pneumophila in Hot Water Systems by Solid-Phase Cytometry. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 70: 1651-1657 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Gaia, V., Fry, N. K., Harrison, T. G., Peduzzi, R. (2003). Sequence-Based Typing of Legionella pneumophila Serogroup 1 Offers the Potential for True Portability in Legionellosis Outbreak Investigation. J. Clin. Microbiol. 41: 2932-2939 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Bernander, S., Jacobson, K., Helbig, J. H., Luck, P. C., Lundholm, M. (2003). A Hospital-Associated Outbreak of Legionnaires' Disease Caused by Legionella pneumophila Serogroup 1 Is Characterized by Stable Genetic Fingerprinting but Variable Monoclonal Antibody Patterns. J. Clin. Microbiol. 41: 2503-2508 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Helbig, J. H., Uldum, S. A., Bernander, S., Luck, P. C., Wewalka, G., Abraham, B., Gaia, V., Harrison, T. G. (2003). Clinical Utility of Urinary Antigen Detection for Diagnosis of Community-Acquired, Travel-Associated, and Nosocomial Legionnaires' Disease. J. Clin. Microbiol. 41: 838-840 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Fields, B. S., Benson, R. F., Besser, R. E. (2002). Legionella and Legionnaires' Disease: 25 Years of Investigation. Clin. Microbiol. Rev. 15: 506-526 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Hayden, R. T., Uhl, J. R., Qian, X., Hopkins, M. K., Aubry, M. C., Limper, A. H., Lloyd, R. V., Cockerill, F. R. (2001). Direct Detection of Legionella Species from Bronchoalveolar Lavage and Open Lung Biopsy Specimens: Comparison of LightCycler PCR, In Situ Hybridization, Direct Fluorescence Antigen Detection, and Culture. J. Clin. Microbiol. 39: 2618-2626 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• HELBIG, J. H., ULDUM, S. A., LUCK, P. C., HARRISON, T. G. (2001). Detection of Legionella pneumophila antigen in urine samples by the BinaxNOW immunochromatographic assay and comparison with both Binax Legionella Urinary Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA) and Biotest Legionella Urin Antigen EIA. J Med Microbiol 50: 509-516 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Visca, P., Goldoni, P., Lück, P. C., Helbig, J. H., Cattani, L., Giltri, G., Bramati, S., Pastoris, M. C. (1999). Multiple Types of Legionella pneumophila Serogroup 6 in a Hospital Heated-Water System Associated with Sporadic Infections. J. Clin. Microbiol. 37: 2189-2196 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Zou, C. H., Knirel, Y. A., Helbig, J. H., Zähringer, U., Mintz, C. S. (1999). Molecular Cloning and Characterization of a Locus Responsible for O Acetylation of the O Polysaccharide of Legionella pneumophila Serogroup 1 Lipopolysaccharide. J. Bacteriol. 181: 4137-4141 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Domínguez, J. A., Galí, N., Pedroso, P., Fargas, A., Padilla, E., Manterola, J. M., Matas, L. (1998). Comparison of the Binax Legionella Urinary Antigen Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA) with the Biotest Legionella Urin Antigen EIA for Detection of Legionella Antigen in both Concentrated and Nonconcentrated Urine Samples. J. Clin. Microbiol. 36: 2718-2722 [Abstract] [Full Text]