PRODUCTION OF OB DIAGNOSTIC ANTISERA FROM MOTILE ESCHERICHIA COLI STRAINS

Abstract

Experiments have been carried out on the reduction of H antigenicity of motile Escherichia coli strains for use in the production of OB diagnostic antisera when naturally occurring non-motile variants are unavailable.Using homologous H agglutinins and/or phenol, H-inagglutinable "variants" were produced, from which OB suspensions were prepared. Rabbits immunized with these suspensions yielded antisera which met the requirements of E. coli OB diagnostic antisera.The characteristics of the experimental antisera prepared are discussed briefly, and some advantages of the methods presented over others commonly used in the laboratory practice are indicated.