VI. IDENTIFICATION OF ACTINOM YCES AND A R A C H N I A
317
Brown et al. (1978) found quantitative and qualitative differences in the
chemical composition of antigens from the cell walls of A. oiscosus T14
and T14 AV. These differences were similar to those reported earlier for
extracts of whole cells (Callihan and Birdsell, 1977). The methods used for
extraction of antigens from whole cells or to prepare cell walls influenced
the number of antigens detected although common and specific antigens
were found in all preparations. I n a companion study, Powell and Birdsell
(1978) studied Lancefield extracts of A. viscosus T14V and T14 AV by
two-dimensional immunoelectrophoresis and Laurel1 Rocket immunoelectrophoresis. Extracts from T14V and T14 AV cells grown in a chemically defined medium appeared to be identical while extracts from cells
grown in supplemented tryptic soy broth showed distinct serological
differences.
Reed et al. (1978) have studied an electronegative antigen (ENA) from
sonicates of A. viscosus and A. naeslundii. The antigens from the two
species were identical in gel diffusion tests. The ENA contained protein,
both neutral- and amino-sugars but little methyl pentose. This antigen is
thought to be a surface antigen.
Baker (1978) extracted three antigens from A. viscosus (M100) cell walls.
Antigen 1, extracted at p H 3-3, migrated as a single band in polyacrylamide
gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and stained with both carbohydrate and
protein stains. Antigen 2 was extracted at pH 2.3 and antigen 3 at pH 1.8.
Antigen 3 also migrated as a single band in PAGE and stained as a protein.
Antigens 1 and 3 elicited an antibody response in rabbits, but only antigen
2 stimulated lymphocyte transformation.
These studies on the antigens of A. viscosus are only a few examples of
the kinds of studies in progress on the antigenic composition of Actinomyces. They illustrate the difficulties encountered in attempting to correlate
studies in various laboratories. The studies from one laboratory (Callihan
and Birdsell, 1977; Powell and Birdsell, 1978; Brown etal., 1978) emphasise
the fact that the antigens detected are dependent on the age of the culture,
the composition of the culture medium and the method of antigen extraction as well as the serological test used for their detection.
IX. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS
The introduction of fluorescent antibody techniques has helped to solve
several problems connected with Actinomyces and actinomycosis. First,
FA staining provides the most efficient method yet devised for the identification of pure cultures of Actinomyces and Arachnia. Results of FA
studies are available long before complete biochemical testing can be done
and identification by FA may be more accurate. FA can also be used to
317
Brown et al. (1978) found quantitative and qualitative differences in the
chemical composition of antigens from the cell walls of A. oiscosus T14
and T14 AV. These differences were similar to those reported earlier for
extracts of whole cells (Callihan and Birdsell, 1977). The methods used for
extraction of antigens from whole cells or to prepare cell walls influenced
the number of antigens detected although common and specific antigens
were found in all preparations. I n a companion study, Powell and Birdsell
(1978) studied Lancefield extracts of A. viscosus T14V and T14 AV by
two-dimensional immunoelectrophoresis and Laurel1 Rocket immunoelectrophoresis. Extracts from T14V and T14 AV cells grown in a chemically defined medium appeared to be identical while extracts from cells
grown in supplemented tryptic soy broth showed distinct serological
differences.
Reed et al. (1978) have studied an electronegative antigen (ENA) from
sonicates of A. viscosus and A. naeslundii. The antigens from the two
species were identical in gel diffusion tests. The ENA contained protein,
both neutral- and amino-sugars but little methyl pentose. This antigen is
thought to be a surface antigen.
Baker (1978) extracted three antigens from A. viscosus (M100) cell walls.
Antigen 1, extracted at p H 3-3, migrated as a single band in polyacrylamide
gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and stained with both carbohydrate and
protein stains. Antigen 2 was extracted at pH 2.3 and antigen 3 at pH 1.8.
Antigen 3 also migrated as a single band in PAGE and stained as a protein.
Antigens 1 and 3 elicited an antibody response in rabbits, but only antigen
2 stimulated lymphocyte transformation.
These studies on the antigens of A. viscosus are only a few examples of
the kinds of studies in progress on the antigenic composition of Actinomyces. They illustrate the difficulties encountered in attempting to correlate
studies in various laboratories. The studies from one laboratory (Callihan
and Birdsell, 1977; Powell and Birdsell, 1978; Brown etal., 1978) emphasise
the fact that the antigens detected are dependent on the age of the culture,
the composition of the culture medium and the method of antigen extraction as well as the serological test used for their detection.
IX. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS
The introduction of fluorescent antibody techniques has helped to solve
several problems connected with Actinomyces and actinomycosis. First,
FA staining provides the most efficient method yet devised for the identification of pure cultures of Actinomyces and Arachnia. Results of FA
studies are available long before complete biochemical testing can be done
and identification by FA may be more accurate. FA can also be used to