Role of Protein A in Nonspecific Immunofluorescence of Staphylococcus aureus.

gammaG-globulin from nonimmunized rabbits and from rabbits immunized with various bacteria reacted in the immunofluorescence technique with protein A-containing Staphylococcus aureus. Pepsin digestion of most immunoglobulin preparations eliminated the reaction, thus showing that the Fc fragment is involved and that the reaction is not a true antigen-antibody reaction. As the specific immunological activity of the immunoglobulin molecules was intact after digestion, it is suggested that the method be used to eliminate reactions with S. aureus in the fluorescent-antibody technique.