Species-specificity of monoclonal antibodies recognising Prevotella intermedia and Prevotella nigrescens

Abstract

Prevotella intermedia and Prevotella nigrescens are not easily distinguished, making it difficult to assess their roles in disease. This study examined the specificity of three monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for these species. Differentiation between P. intermedia (13 isolates) and P. nigrescens (24 isolates) was by the electrophoretic mobility of their malate and glutamate dehydrogenase enzymes or by DNA homology grouping. All P. intermedia reacted strongly with mAb 40BI3.2.2 whereas P. nigrescens strains did not. Monoclonal antibodies 37BI6.1 and 39BI1.1.2 recognised all strains of both species but most P. nigrescens reacted weakly with mAb 39BI1.1.2. Monoclonal antibody 40BI3.2.2 therefore recognises an antigen specific for P. intermedia but not P. nigrescens and provides an easy and reliable means of distinguishing between these species. Three vaginal isolates identified biochemically as P. intermedia had enzymes with mobilities corresponding to neither P. intermedia nor P. nigrescens. These isolates were not recognised by mAbs 39BI1.1.2 or 40BI3.2.2 and may represent an undescribed taxon within this group of organisms.

Genetic heterogeneity in Prevotella intermedia, Prevotella nigrescens, Prevotella corporis and related species isolated from oral and nonoral sites

“…All P. intermedia and P. nigrescens isolates were originally provided to us having been identified as “ P. intermedia ” by traditional techniques: they were gram‐negative rods, indole and glucose positive, which formed black‐pigmented colonies on blood agar plates. The two species were then distinguished in our laboratory by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis of malate and glutamate dehydrogenases ( 30, 33), ribotyping ( 30) and by reaction with monoclonal antibodies ( 9).…”

Purification and functional analysis of the DnaK homologue fromPrevotella intermediaOMZ 326

“…Prevotella intermedia OMZ 326 and Prevotella nigrescens OMZ 327 were kindly provided by R. Gmür (Department of Oral Microbiology and General Immunology, Dental Institute, University of Zurich, Switzerland), and were originally isolated from subgingival plaque. They were identified as P. intermedia or P. nigrescens by enzyme electrophoresis, reactions with monoclonal antibodies and ribotyping [18, 19]. Prevotella corporis (a closely related but phenotypically distinguishable species which is rarely isolated from oral sites) ATCC 33547 was included for comparison.…”

An investigation into the use of SDS-PAGE of cell surface extracts and proteolytic activity to differentiate Prevotella nigrescens and Prevotella intermedia

“…The strains used in this study and their sources are listed in Table 1. Confirmation of the identity of Table 1 Bacterial strains used and their source each P. intermedia and P. nigrescens strain was carried out previously by Devine et al [4] using multilocus enzyme electrophoresis and reactivity to serotype-specific monoclonal antibodies.…”

“…both species share many common phenotypes that make speciation difficult to perform. Methods of differentiating P. inter-media and P. nigrescens have included DNA-DNA homology [31 multilocus enzyme electrophoresis 131 and the use of serotype-specific monoclonal antibodies [4], but these methods are not rapid and cannot easily be used in all laboratories. The aim of this study was to investigate possible characteristics that would allow rapid and convenient speciation of P. intermedia and P. nigrescens using readily available techniques.…”