Test ELISA do oznaczania fimbrii K88 szczepow Escherichia coli

The aim of the study was to develop a sensitive and specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for determining K88 fimbriae in E. coli strains. The presented test is based on the isolated and purified K88ab and K88ac fimbriae as the solid-phase antigens and specific anti-K88ab and anti-K88ac polyclonal antibodies, respectively. The ELISA described was shown to be highly specific and sensitive. It was possible to detect K88 |imbriae in a bacterial concentration of 5 x 10' - 3 x l(r cells per ml. Our test also provides a convenient method for determining the K88ab and K88ac antigenic variants of K88 fimbriae. By means of the described procedure it was shown that the K88ac variant predominates in E. coli strains isolated from the enteric form of colibacillosis. The ELISA can also be used for the selection of the K88-positive E. coli strains for vaccine production purposes.