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Exposure of cell surface structures inEscherichia coli as studied with ultrastructural immunohistochemistry

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Abstract

The surfaces of two smoothEscherichia coli O6 strains, one with K13 capsular antigen and one without demonstrable capsule, and one roughE. coli strain were analyzed by using a sandwich technique with ultrastructural immunohistochemistry. Peroxidase-conjugated anti-rabbit serum and antisera corresponding to the distal lipopolysaccharide ofE. coli (O antigen), to the capsule (K antigen), or to the lipid part of the lipopolysaccharide, lipid A, were used. Using the anti-capsule serum on the smooth-capsule-producing strain, we observed the capsule as loosely connected clusters covering less of the surface than the O antigen. No reactions were observed with the capsule-negative strain having the same O antigen. The O antigen was identified all over the outer membrane in a patchy pattern with knobs covering the whole surface on the capsule-negative strain. Fewer knobs, but more variable in size than on the capsule-negative strain, were observed on the capsule-producing strain. The rough strain showed no reactions with either the O or K antiserum. Lipid A was not available for anti-lipid A serum on the rough or smooth strains.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Immunology, Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Göteborg, Guldhedsgatan 10, S-413 46, Göteborg, Sweden

    I. Mattsby-Baltzer

  2. Institute of Histology, University of Göteborg, Göteborg, Sweden

    H. -A. Hansson & H. Nygren

  3. Department of Clinical Bacteriology, Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Göteborg, Göteburg, Sweden

    B. Kaijser

Authors
  1. I. Mattsby-Baltzer
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  2. H. -A. Hansson
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  3. B. Kaijser
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  4. H. Nygren
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Mattsby-Baltzer, I., Hansson, H.A., Kaijser, B. et al. Exposure of cell surface structures inEscherichia coli as studied with ultrastructural immunohistochemistry. Current Microbiology 4, 177–182 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02602825

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