[Evaluation of humoral immunologic response in rabbits immunized with a slime antigen of Pseudomonas aeruginosa].

Sera of rabbits immunized with slime antigen of Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 14.207 were tested for the presence of the correspondent, circulating antibodies by the most common serological tests used in the medical laboratory: double immunodifusion in agar, indirect hemagglutination, complement fixation and indirect immunofluorescence tests. The slime antigen obtained from stationary culture of the bacteria, in trypticase-soy broth grown at 36 degrees C by 72 hours, was extracted from the supernatant of the culture and also from the cell mass through cold ethanol precipitation after buffering of the medium. All the sera had significant antibody titers, with the values changing according to the technique employed. The best results were obtained by hemagglutination and by immunofluorescence tests, there were no cross reactions of antibodies with other bacteria, shown by immunofluorescence tests made using as antigen other microorganisms.