Outer membrane antigens of Neisseria meningitidis group B serotype 2 studied by crossed immunoelectrophoresis.

This study shows that the capsular polysaccharide, protein, and lipopolysaccharide antigens from the outer membrane of Neisseria meningitidis group B serotype 2 may be identified by crossed immunoelectrophoresis. By using this technique, seven precipitates were resolved when outer membrane preparations were reacted against goat anti-whole cell group B type 2 antiserum. Most of these precipitates were identified by comparison with purified reference preparations. Different outer membrane preparations, reflecting different growth conditions, varied in their compositions of lipopolysaccharide, protein, and polysaccharide. Detergent treatment altered the protein and lipopolysaccharide precipitation patterns. In the presence of detergent, the lipopolysaccharide did not precipitate, and the electrophoretic migration of the protein antigens decreased. Crossed immunoelectrophoresis is a useful qualitative method for analysis of the antigenic components of the meningococcal outer membrane. The crossed immunoelectrophoresis with intermediate gel technique is presently being used to measure the human immune response to the different cell surface components.