Immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgA subclass pattern of human antibodies to Shigella flexneri and Salmonella serogroup B and D lipopolysaccharide O antigens.

The subclass distribution of human serum antibodies to the O-antigenic lipopolysaccharides of Salmonella serogroups B and D and to Shigella flexneri serotypes 1b, 2a, and 4a lipopolysaccharide antigens were analyzed in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with monoclonal antibodies to the immunoglobulin subclasses. The patients had culture-verified Salmonella (17 Swedes) or Shigella flexneri (23 Vietnamese; 11 children and 12 adults) infections. Consecutive samples drawn during 1 year postinfection were investigated. Antibodies to the Salmonella antigens were mainly of the immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1), IgA1, and IgA2 subclasses. For the Salmonella serogroup B O polysaccharide, the IgA1 and IgA2 subclasses had peak values earlier than (6/9) or coinciding with the IgG1 (3/9) peak value. Furthermore, the IgA2 response to Salmonella serogroup B was positively correlated to the duration of the carrier state (P less than 0.001); the corresponding IgA1 response was less well correlated but was still significant (P less than 0.02). In the case of the Shigella flexneri O polysaccharide, specific antibodies appeared mainly in the IgG1 and IgA1 subclasses. Some IgG2 was also found, surprisingly even in very young patients. No subclass shift with time within the immunoglobulin classes was noted in any of the groups.