Biomaterial Database

Immune labeling of certain strains of Actinomyces naeslundii and Actinomyces viscosus by fluorescence and electron microscopy. 1979

C H Lai, and M A Listgarten

A total of 12 well-characterized strains of Actinomyces viscosus and A. naeslundii grown on Trypticase soy agar plates supplemented with sheep erythrocytes were examined by light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy after treatment with appropriately labeled antisera to homologous and heterologous strains. Cells incubated with homologous rabbit antisera followed by fluorescein-isothiocyanate (FITC)-conjugated goat anti-rabbit immunoglobulin G (IgG) exhibited a completely smooth fluorescent outline in the case of A. naeslundii and and interrupted, irregular fluorescent outline in the case of human strains of A. viscosus. The different labeling patterns appeared to be related to the presence at the ultrastructural level of long, unevenly distributed strands of "fuzz" on the surface of human A. viscosus cells, whereas A. naeslundii cells had a narrower layer of fuzz, or more even thickness. The immunocoating reaction revealed homologous antibody binding to the irregular strands of fuzz on the surface of human A. viscosus cells, whereas homologous antisera to A. naeslundii coated A. naeslundii cells with a moderately electron-dense coating of antibody of even thickness. Human strains of A. viscosus incubated with heterologous antiserum to A. naeslundii followed by FITC-labeled goat anti-rabbit IgG exhibited a segmented fluorescent outline, which differed from that produced with homologous antisera. A. naeslundii incubated with heterologous rabbit antisera to human A. viscosus strains and FITC-labeled anti-rabbit IgG exhibited a completely smooth fluorescent outline similar to that produced with homologous antiserum. A. viscosus strains of hamster origin differed from A. viscosus strains of human origin by the absence of a surface fuzz and the comparatively smooth, even fluorescence produced by incubating these cells with homologous rabbit antiserum followed by FITC-labeled goat anti-rabbit IgG. Antiserum to a hamster strain did not cross-react with A. naeslundii or human strains of A. viscosus. Under the growth conditions of this experiment, ultrastructural features and labeling patterns with the indirect fluorescent technique may be useful in differentiating these serotypes from one another.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008854	Microscopy, Electron	Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen.	Electron Microscopy
D002462	Cell Membrane	The lipid- and protein-containing, selectively permeable membrane that surrounds the cytoplasm in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.	Plasma Membrane,Cytoplasmic Membrane,Cell Membranes,Cytoplasmic Membranes,Membrane, Cell,Membrane, Cytoplasmic,Membrane, Plasma,Membranes, Cell,Membranes, Cytoplasmic,Membranes, Plasma,Plasma Membranes
D002473	Cell Wall	The outermost layer of a cell in most PLANTS; BACTERIA; FUNGI; and ALGAE. The cell wall is usually a rigid structure that lies external to the CELL MEMBRANE, and provides a protective barrier against physical or chemical agents.	Cell Walls,Wall, Cell,Walls, Cell
D005455	Fluorescent Antibody Technique	Test for tissue antigen using either a direct method, by conjugation of antibody with fluorescent dye (FLUORESCENT ANTIBODY TECHNIQUE, DIRECT) or an indirect method, by formation of antigen-antibody complex which is then labeled with fluorescein-conjugated anti-immunoglobulin antibody (FLUORESCENT ANTIBODY TECHNIQUE, INDIRECT). The tissue is then examined by fluorescence microscopy.	Antinuclear Antibody Test, Fluorescent,Coon's Technique,Fluorescent Antinuclear Antibody Test,Fluorescent Protein Tracing,Immunofluorescence Technique,Coon's Technic,Fluorescent Antibody Technic,Immunofluorescence,Immunofluorescence Technic,Antibody Technic, Fluorescent,Antibody Technics, Fluorescent,Antibody Technique, Fluorescent,Antibody Techniques, Fluorescent,Coon Technic,Coon Technique,Coons Technic,Coons Technique,Fluorescent Antibody Technics,Fluorescent Antibody Techniques,Fluorescent Protein Tracings,Immunofluorescence Technics,Immunofluorescence Techniques,Protein Tracing, Fluorescent,Protein Tracings, Fluorescent,Technic, Coon's,Technic, Fluorescent Antibody,Technic, Immunofluorescence,Technics, Fluorescent Antibody,Technics, Immunofluorescence,Technique, Coon's,Technique, Fluorescent Antibody,Technique, Immunofluorescence,Techniques, Fluorescent Antibody,Techniques, Immunofluorescence,Tracing, Fluorescent Protein,Tracings, Fluorescent Protein
D000190	Actinomyces	A genus of gram-positive, rod-shaped bacteria whose organisms are nonmotile. Filaments that may be present in certain species are either straight or wavy and may have swollen or clubbed heads.
D000942	Antigens, Bacterial	Substances elaborated by bacteria that have antigenic activity.	Bacterial Antigen,Bacterial Antigens,Antigen, Bacterial
D013045	Species Specificity	The restriction of a characteristic behavior, anatomical structure or physical system, such as immune response; metabolic response, or gene or gene variant to the members of one species. It refers to that property which differentiates one species from another but it is also used for phylogenetic levels higher or lower than the species.	Species Specificities,Specificities, Species,Specificity, Species