Counterimmunoelectrophoresis with Adenovirus Type-Specific Anti-Hemagglutinin Sera As a Rapid Diagnostic Method

Abstract The complex antigenic properties of adenovirus-soluble complete and incomplete hemagglutinins were utilized to study the specificity of adenovirus anti-hemagglutinin sera in immunodiffusion and counterimmunoelectrophoresis tests. Pentons, penton dimers, fiber dimers, and/or dodecons of adenovirus types 2, 3, 5, 7a, 8, and 11 were extensively purified by ion-exchange and exclusion chromatographies. Components were determined to be purified proteins by immunologic, electron microscopic, and polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic criteria. Specific antigenic components were identified by immunoelectrophoresis and by various biologic characteristics. Rabbit antisera prepared against these hemagglutinating components were type-specific in standard serologic, Ouchterlony immunodiffusion, immunoelectrophoretic, and counterimmunoelectrophoretic tests. Counterimmunoelectrophoresis was particularly well suited to a rapid identification and typing of adenovirus isolates for diagnostic purposes.