ANTIGENS OF VIBRIO-VULNIFICUS

Rabbit antisera raised against a formalinized culture of Vibrio vulnif icus were examined for the development of IgM and IgG antibody by ELIS A analysis of serum samples harvested weekly for 5 weeks following the initial injection. V. vulnificus antigens recognized by the sera in t hree fractions of the culture were identified by immunoblot analysis. The major species recognized in the culture supernatant solution by bo th IgM and IgG had a molar mass of 58 kD. In fractions derived from th e bacterial pellet, IgM recognized a species of 56 kD, while IgG react ed strongly with 29.5, 56, 59, 68, 87, and 186 kD species.