Serology of Staphylococcus aureus infections using multiple antigens and serial serum samples.

Abstract

The detection of antibody to S aureus in human serum can aid in the management of staphylococcal diseases [1]. RIAs and ELISAs can detect low levels of antibody and demonstrate increased antibody production during serious staphylococcal infections [2,3]. We compared four S aureus constituents--cell-wall peptidoglycan and teichoic acid, and extracellular alpha-toxin and nuclease--as antigens in a sensitive ELISA. The value of testing more than a single serum sample was also determined. Elevated IgG antibody to peptidoglycan, present in one or more serum samples of 13 (50%) of 26 patients with complicated bacteremia, was found to be the most sensitive test. All 26 patients had a significant IgG antibody response to peptidoglycan. Three (27%) of 11 patients with uncomplicated bacteremia had elevated levels of antibody to peptidoglycan in their serum, and seven (64%) showed a significant change in titer when serial serum samples were tested. Maximum detection rates for the other antigens in complicated and uncomplicated bacteremia were, respectively, 62% and 37% for teichoic acid, 38% and 37% for nuclease, and 54% and 13% for alpha-toxin. In single serum samples, the detection rate for all four antigens marginally improved the results, with detection rates of 62% and 36% for complicated and uncomplicated bacteremia, respectively. Cross-reactive antibody to peptidoglycan but not to the other three antigens was present in six (75%) of eight patients with long-standing subacute bacterial endocarditis due to either viridans streptococci or Staphylococcus epidermidis (data not shown).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

• Authors: H A Verbrugh, R D Nelson, P K Peterson, B J Wilkinson, R L Thompson
• Journal: The Journal of infectious diseases (J Infect Dis) Vol. 148 Issue 3 Pg. 608 (Sep 1983) ISSN: 0022-1899 [Print] United States
• PMID: 6619582 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Bacterial
• Bacterial Toxins
• Hemolysin Proteins
• Peptidoglycan
• Teichoic Acids
• staphylococcal alpha-toxin
• Micrococcal Nuclease

Topics

• Antibodies, Bacterial (analysis)
• Bacterial Toxins (immunology)
• Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
• Hemolysin Proteins
• Humans
• Micrococcal Nuclease (immunology)
• Peptidoglycan (immunology)
• Sepsis (immunology)
• Staphylococcal Infections (immunology)
• Staphylococcus aureus (immunology)
• Teichoic Acids (immunology)