On the Nature of Complement-Fixing Antibodies to Mycoplasma Pneumoniae

Abstract

Complement-fixing antibodies to Mycoplasma pneumoniae were found to be inactivated to a large degree by collection onto filter paper discs, a procedure which is highly effective for the preservation of viral CF antibodies. By means of sucrose density gradient centrifugation, Sephadex gel filtration and mercaptoethanol inactivation it was shown that CF antibodies for Mycoplasma pneumoniae may consist entirely or in part of 19 S γ-globulins. Absorption onto filter paper discs or drying was found to inactivate 19 S CF antibodies, but had no effect on 7 S CF antibodies for Mycoplasma pneumoniae.