Evaluation of Enzyme‐linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) for Serological Identification of DifferentRhizobiumStrains*

摘要

A double‐antidody sandwich method of enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) previously used for serotyping of peanutRhizobiumisolates was applied for serological identification of fast‐ and slow‐growingRhizobiumstrains belonging to different species. This technique is highly sensitive for specific detection of culture and nodule antigens and enabled the rapid screening of large numbers of nodules.ELISA absorbance values of heat‐treated, ultrasonically and mechanically disintegrated cells of the tested strains were consistently higher than those of untreated cells.The antisera to strainsR. leguminosarum250V andR. meliloti111 obtained from individual rabbits differed in their suitability for ELISA, although they were very efficient in homologous agglutination reactions. The ELISA reactions of culture and nodule antigens were identical for all strains inv