APPLICATION OF THE IMMUNODIFFUSION METHOD IN THE DETERMINATION OF MICROCOCCI

Eight species of the genus Micrococcus were studied for their antigeni c specificities with the aid of the bank created by the authors of spe cific polyclonal antisera to the type strains of Micrococcus Cohn 1872 : M. luteus CCM 169(T), M. varians CCM 884(T), M. roseus CCM 679(T), a nd M. nishinomiyaensis CCM 2140(T). Immunochemical analysis of 146 str ains isolated from various natural and industrial substrates and also of 31 collection strains allowed us to reveal antigenic relationships and distinctions between the studied cultures and to assign them to va rious Micrococcus species. By immunodiffusion analysis, an intraspecif ic antigenic relationship between representatives of M. roseus and M. varians was found, as well as significant antigenic heterogeneity of M . luteus. The results of the antigenic analysis of micrococci may be u sed in the work with the collection and for the rapid identification o f these microorganisms.