The Journal of Medical Microbiology, Vol 25, Issue 4 285-288, Copyright © 1988 by Society for General Microbiology
Immuno-electronmicroscopy of fimbriae-like structures on Bordetella pertussis serotype 1.3
J. H. Fredriksen, E. Namork and L. O. Froholm
Department of Methodology, National Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.
Fimbriae-like filaments were demonstrated on the surface of Bordetella
pertussis, serotype 1.3, by negative staining and electronmicroscopy.
Immunoelectronmicroscopy with a monoclonal antibody specific for strains
possessing agglutinogen 3, and colloidal gold, gave strong labelling of
these structures. However, incubation with adsorbed polyclonal
anti-agglutinogen 3 serum gave only weak labelling of the distal parts of
the filaments and of the bacterial surface. The different binding patterns
of the two antisera suggested that the epitopes involved were dissimilar.
Thus, agglutinogen 3, as defined by conventional adsorbed sera, appeared to
be associated with the fimbriae-like structures but was not necessarily
identical to the fimbrial subunit protein. The monoclonal antibody, however
was more likely directed against the subunits of the fimbriae-like
structures on serotype 1.3 bacteria.
