Morphological stabilization of capsules of group B streptococci, types Ia, Ib, II, and III, with specific antibody

Abstract

Antibody prepared to the type-specific capsular polysaccharides of group B streptococci was used to demonstrate a stabilizing effect on the capsular glycocalyx. This permitted visualization by electron microscopy of the size of the capsule relative to the rest of the bacterial cell, and clear differences in the dimensions of untreated and antibody-treated capsular material were noted. Antibodies produced against group B streptococci types Ia, Ib, II, and III were used to demonstrate morphologically that the organization and extent of the capsular glycocalyx more closely resembles its natural state on stabilization by reaction with specific antibody.