PRODUCTION AND IMMUNOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF NEISSERIA-MENINGITIDIS GROUP-B ANTISERUM FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF PURULENT-MENINGITIS

Unlike Neisseria meningitidis groups A, C, Y and W135, the group B cap sular polysaccharide has been shown to be chemically and immunological ly identical to the capsular polysaccharide of Escherichia coli K1. Bo th components are sialic acid homopolymers and are poorly immunogenic. Nevertheless, due to the high incidence of Neisseria meningitidis gro up B meningitis in the population of the State of Sao Paulo, preparing antiserum to this serogroup for diagnostic purposes has become a matt er of high priority. Of the many immunization schemes proposed, intrav enous inoculation of whole bacteria previously inactivated with formal dehyde and simultaneous intradermal inoculation with a mixture of the bacterial polysaccharide fraction and whole bacteria in complete Freun d's adjuvant have produced the best results. The antiserum was treated with immunoadsorbents prepared with aluminum chloride and protein and /or polysaccharide antigens from each of the following heterologous ba cteria: Haemophilus influenzae type b, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Esche richia coli other than K1, and Staphylococcus aureus, in order to elim inate cross-reactivity. For quality control analysis, the antiserum wa s assessed by the immunodiffusion, counterimmunoelectrophoresis, dot-E LISA, and immuno-blot techniques against homologous antigens. Specific ity was obtained after treating the antiserum with Haemophilus influen zae type b polysaccharide immunosorbent.