Polyagglutinability Due to Loss of O‐Antigenic Determinants in Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Strains Isolated from Cystic Fibrosis Patients

Abstract

O-polyagglutinable P. aeruginosa are prevalent among chronically infected cystic fibrosis patients. In the present work, 1 o-group 3, 1 o-group 9 and 1 polyagglutinable 0-3/9 strain were anlayzed by use of both corresponding group specific antisera against the o-antigen and polyspecific antisera against all extractable antigens of the 3 strains. Quantitative immunoelectrophoresis and classical tube-agglutination methods was employed in the analysis. The results showed that the polyagglutinable strain contained 0.1% and the 0-9 strain 1%, respectively, of the O-antigen-containing lipopolysaccharide present in the 0-3 strain. It is discussed whether these differences represent a gradual antigenic adjustment to the defense mechanisms of the chronically infected patients.