Open AccessProtein antigens of encapsulated Klebsiella pneumoniae surface exposed after growth in the presence of subinhibitory concentrations of cephalosporins
Author(s) -
Jagath L. Kadurugamuwa,
Hosmin Anwar,
M. R. W. Brown,
O. Zák
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.07
H-Index - 259
eISSN - 1070-6283
pISSN - 0066-4804
DOI - 10.1128/aac.28.2.195
Subject(s) - klebsiella pneumoniae , antigen , cephalosporin , microbiology and biotechnology , antigenicity , bacterial outer membrane , membrane protein , biology , antibody , chemistry , escherichia coli , antibiotics , biochemistry , membrane , immunology , gene , genetics
It recently has been reported by us that cephalosporins, at a concentration below that influencing growth rate, reduced the production of enterochelin and capsule formation of iron-depleted Klebsiella pneumoniae. We now report on the antigenicity of the outer membrane components and surface-exposed protein antigens of iron-depleted cells grown in the presence or absence of cephalosporins. All major outer membrane proteins, including iron-regulated membrane proteins, were immunogenic. Encapsulated K. pneumoniae grown in antibiotic-free media had three protein antigens (60, 35.5, and 32.5 kilodaltons) exposed on the surface that were accessible to antibodies. Growth of the same cultures in the presence of subinhibitory concentrations of cephalosporins resulted in the exposure of a greater number of protein antigenic determinants, including iron-regulated membrane proteins, which become readily accessible to antibodies. It was also found that immunoblotting was generally more sensitive than conventional staining of the acrylamide gel with Coomassie blue in the detection of proteins.