Classification of Neisseria meningitidis group B into distinct serotypes. IV. Preliminary chemical studies on the nature of the serotype antigen.

Group B Neisseria meningitidis has been subdivided into 11 distinct serotypes by a sensitive bactericidal inhibition technique. The antigens responsible for induction of bactericidal type-specific antibodies were found to be extractable from the group B cells with heating at 100 C either by 0.017 n HCl in saline or by normal saline. These extracted serotype antigens were detected by a capillary precipitin test. The development of methods for extraction and assay of the serotype antigens permitted studies on their immunochemistry. The serotype antigens were distinct from the group-specific substance. Acid extracts contained abundant serotype antigen, but were devoid of group-specific substance. The identity of serotype antigens as proteins was confirmed by their sensitivity to Pronase and trypsin. The molecular weight of these antigens as estimated by G-200 Sephadex chromatography and by electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gels is in excess of 200,000 daltons. Saline extracts containing the serotype antigen could be fractionated into three distinct fractions with acetic acid: pH 4.5 and pH 3.5 precipitated fractions and a pH 3.5 supernatant fraction. The pH 4.5 precipitated fraction contained the serotype antigen.