Anti-Lipoteichoic acid Antibody

ELISA: use at 0.1-1.0 ug/ml (optimized for LTA on solid phase). <br><br>Opsonization assay: use at 80-160 ug/ml (optimized for Staph. epidermidis, Hay strain).

This antibody reacts with lipoteichoic acid of Staph epidermidis, Hay strain, as well as clinical strains of Staph. epidermidis (types I, II, and III), Staph. aureus strains 5 and 8, Strep. pyogenes, Strep. fecaelis, and Strep. mutans. It does not react with peptido- glycan of Staph. aureus or peptidoglycan- rhamnose, nor does it react with pneumococcal polysaccharides. This antibody does not cross-react with E. coli or H. influenzae type B.

Lipoteichoic acid (LTA) is the major proinflammatory structure present within the cell wall layer of most gram-positive bacteria. It plays an important role in the initiation and progression of bacterial infection, inflammation, and septic shock. LTA induces several cytokines in vivo, and LTA and peptidoglycan (PepG) synergize to cause the induction of nitric oxide formation which can lead to multiple organ failure. Since LTA is also found in the cell walls of non-pathogenic gram-positive bacteria, it has been suggested that the structure of LTA , and its ability to synergize with PepG, determines the ability of a particular bacterium to cause septic shock.