Surface Analysis by Bacterial Adherence to Virus-Infected Cells

A rapid and inexpensive assay has been developed for the examination of new anti-gens on the surface of whole eucaryotic cells. This assay is based on the specific tagging of antigen-antibody complexes at the cell surface with Staphylococcus aureus. Cells that had been infected with vesicular stomatitis virus were exposed to specific antiserum, were then exposed to the bacteria, and finally were examined in the light microscope. Almost 100 % of infected cells reacted positively. Two temperature-sensitive mutants of vesicular stomatitis virus were employed to determine which virus-specific antigen interacted with antibody and resulted in adherence of bacteria to the cells. Examination of cells infected with either Is G41 or ts 045 at the non-permissive temperature showed that the assay by bacterial adherence measured the presence of only the viral glycoprotein at the cell surface. Internal viral antigens or readsorbed extracellular virions did not result in bacterial adherence. This assay has potential widespread significance for diagnostic medicine as well as for rapid and sensitive analyses of cell surfaces. To examine the surface of virus-infected cells