Characterization of fimbriae of Actinomyces naeslundii N16 using monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies

Two populations of fimbriae, which differ both in antigenicity and biological activity, have been identified on Actinomyces viscosus T14V cells. Although A. naeslundii serotype 1 isolates possess only one of these fimbrial populations (type 2 fimbriae), there was functional evidence to suggest that A. naeslundii serotype 3 strain N16 had both types of fimbriae. The purpose of this study was to characterize the fimbriae of A. naeslundii N16 immunologically by using both monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies. Three monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to N16 were produced; all three bound to N16 fimbriae as determined by immunoelectron microscopy. In a solid-phase radioimmunoassay MAb 3B5.A1 reacted with 100% of the A. naeslundii serotype 3 isolates tested, but it did not react with any heterologous isolates. Type 1 and type 2 fimbriae were detected in Lancefield extracts of N16 cells by crossed immunoelectrophoresis (XIEP) using rabbit antiserum against N16 whole cells. When 125I-MAb 3B5.A1 was also incorporated into the gel, autoradiography indicated that MAb 3B5.A1 was specific for type 2 fimbriae. The N16 type 2 fimbriae were purified by gel filtration and immunoaffinity chromatography on a MAb 3B5.A1 column. Fimbriae-specific polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies were used in various immunological assays to determine that (a) N16 type 1 fimbriae are not related antigenically to type 2 fimbriae, (b) each type of fimbriae has epitopes that are present on the corresponding fimbriae of certain heterologous strains, and (c) MAb 3B5.A1 recognizes a serotype-specific epitope residing on the type 2 fimbriae of A. naeslundii serotype 3 strains