[Use of western-blotting technique and computer analysis for comparing cellular antigens of coagulase-negative staphylococci].

Western-Blotting technique and computer programme have been used to analyse cellular antigenic patterns of coagulase-negative staphylococci mainly of S. epidermidis and S. saprophyticus species. It was shown that antigenic pattern among strains of one species was similar. Intra strains differences are mainly quantitative. The qualitative differences concern not quantitatively dominant antigens. The main antigens of S. epidermidis and S. saprophyticus strains were of 28 and 44 kD molecular weight respectively. The antigens of molecular weight around 44, 48, 89 and 105 kD were detected in antigenic extract of strains from different species. Only one of the quantitatively dominant antigen of m. w. 48 kD, was localised in all analysed materials. The method presented here was used for the first time to analyse staphylococcal antigens. Such analysis could be performed not only for bacterial antigens.