Abstract
IgG antibodies directed against Staphylococcus aureus were examined by Western blotting in sera from 15 healthy individuals isolated for a year in Antarctica. Sera reacted with many staphylococcal antigens in whole-cell extracts and individuals showed unique and unchanging blot profiles. The IgG and IgM profiles of patients with deep-seated staphylococcal infections were also examined by Western blotting. Anti-staphylococcal IgM antibodies that reacted with an antigen of apparent molecular mass 31 X 10(3) were present in all patients with staphylococcal disease, and were absent from, or detected in much smaller amounts in, control sera.