IMMUNOBIOLOGY OF ACINETOBACTER-BAUMANNII AND GENOSPECIES-3

Five representative, taxonomically and serologically defined clinical isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii and genospecies 3, and A. baumannii strain ATCC 19606 were examined for immunogenicity in rabbits following experimental bacteremia. All rabbits seroconverted as determined with the aid of the tube O-agglutination, indirect hemagglutination, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) procedures. Immunoblots detected over twenty immunogenic, proteinase-K-degradable polypeptide antigens in trichloroacetic acid extracts, outer membrane protein fractions, and mechanically disrupted (type MM2 mixer drill) cell preparations. Sodium periodate-susceptible phenol-water and phenol-chloroform-light petroleum lipopolysaccharide (LPS) extracts proved to be immunogenic for the rabbits as well. Convalescent sera from two patients with documented bacteremia due to genospecies 3, serovar 4, likewise revealed numerous anti-polypeptide and anti-LPS antibodies comprising the immunoglobulin G (IgG) and the IgM class.