Test kit and method for the detection of microorganisms associated with periodontal diseases using surfactant mixture as extraction composition

Abstract: An extraction composition, buffered to a pH of at least about 8, and containing both a cationic surfactant and an anionic surfactant can be used to advantage to extract antigens from various sources, but particularly from microorganisms associated with periodontal diseases. Extracted antigens can then be determined in a number of immunological methods. The extraction composition can be supplied as part of a diagnostic test kit.

Description: The present invention relates to a diagnostic test kit and a method for using a surfactant mixture to extract and determine microorganisms associated with periodontal diseases. In particular, the method is useful for the extraction and determination of an antigen from any of the microorganisms Actinobacillus actinomycetemco-mitans , Prevotella intermedia (formerly known as Bacteroides intermedius) or Porphyromonas gingivalis (formerly known as Bacteroides gingivalis) . There is a continuous need in medical practice, research and diagnostic procedures for rapid, accurate and qualitative or quantitative determinations of biological substances which are present in biological fluids at low concentrations. For example, the presence of drugs, narcotics, hormones, steroids, polypeptides, prostaglandins or infectious organisms in blood, urine, saliva, vaginal secretions, dental plaque, gingival crevicular fluid and other biological specimens has to be determined in an accurate and rapid fashion for suitable diagnosis or treatment. To provide such determinations, various methods have been devised for isolating and identifying biological substances employing specific binding reactions between the substance to be detected (sometimes identified as a "ligand") and a compound specifically reactive with that substance (sometimes identified as a "receptor"). Extraction of antigen from microorganisms of interest in a biological specimen is generally critical to providing an accurate, rapid and sensitive assay. Many varied techniques have been used for extraction including physical disruption of the cells by sonication, heating or centrifugation. Chemical extraction compositions have also been developed. For example, various surfactants, such as sodium dodecyl sulfate, have been used individually in extraction compositions. Specific microorganisms have been implicated as indicators for a number of periodontal diseases in humans and animals, such as gingivitis and periodontitis. The importance of such diseases is growing in the human population, especially as people live longer, and prevention of such diseases is becoming of considerable importance to dentists, insurance carriers and the health industry in general. An advance in the art in the detection of microorganisms associated with periodontal diseases is described in EP-A-0 439 210. This case describes the simultaneous detection and differentiation of these microorganisms, and particularly Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans , Porohyromonas gingivalis and Prevotella intermedia , in an immunometric assay using water-insoluble reagents in defined regions of a microporous filtration membrane. Antigens from the microorganisms were extracted using a 10% (by weight) solution of sodium dodecyl sulfate. While the noted simultaneous assay represents an important advance in the art for detecting the noted microorganisms, in some cases, unacceptable background was observed, especially when clinical specimens were tested. It was also noticed that the known surfactant extraction composition did not adequately extract antigen from all serotypes of the microorganisms of interest. A solution to this problem is critical since it is highly important for the user of the assay to discriminate among the microorganisms for effective diagnosis and treatment of disease without significant background. It would also be useful to have a universal extraction composition that could be used to extract all serotypes of related microorganisms. The problems noted above have been overcome using a diagnostic test kit for the immunometric assay of microbial antigens comprising in separate packaging, at least one of the following: (a) an enzyme labeled, water-soluble receptor for a specific binding ligand of interest, (b) a disposable test device, (c) a wash composition for separating uncomplexed materials from a complex of a ligand of interest and its receptor, the composition comprising at least one surfactant, (d) a composition for providing a colorimetric, fluorometric or chemiluminescent signal in the presence of an enzyme label, and signal (e) a receptor for a ligand of interest, which receptor is insolubilized, or capable of being insolubilized, the kit characterized wherein it also comprises an aqueous composition buffered to a pH of at least 8 comprising: a. at least 0.05 weight percent of a water-soluble cationic surfactant, and b. at least 0.05 weight percent of an anionic surfactant. A method for the extraction of an antigen from a microorganism or virus comprises: contacting a specimen suspected of containing a microorganism or virus of interest with the aqueous composition described above, the contacting being carried out under time and temperature conditions effective to extract an antigen from the microorganism or virus. Further, a method for the determination of a microorganism or virus comprises: A. contacting a specimen suspected of containing a microorganism or virus of interest with the aqueous extraction composition described above, the contacting being carried out under time and temperature conditions effective to extract an antigen from the microorganism or virus, B. forming a detectable immunological complex of the extracted antigen and an antibody specific to the antigen, and C. detecting the complex as a determination of the presence of the microorganism or virus in the specimen. The present invention provides a means for rapid and sensitive detection of microorganisms associated with periodontal diseases. In particular, this invention allows for rapid extraction and detection of all serotypes of those microorganisms using a universal extraction composition. Thus, while known extraction compositions effectively extract some microorganisms or serotypes thereof, the composition described herein extracts all serotypes of related microorganisms. These advantages are achieved using a universal extraction composition which includes both a water-soluble cationic surfactant and an anionic surfactant. The composition is also critically buffered to a relatively high pH, that is at least 8. This composition provides better extraction than other extraction compositions, and the background in the assays is considerably reduced while maintaining suitable assay sensitivity for targeted antigens. The present invention provides a diagnostic test kit that can be used in any specific binding assay so that a ligand of interest is extracted from a microorganism (or other organism or component thereof) or virus particle, complexed with its corresponding receptor, and the complex is detected in a suitable manner. Ligands which can be so detected are well known in the art and include, but are not limited to, antigenic proteins and carbohydrates, toxins, lectins, enzymes, polysaccharides, glycolipids, antibodies, nucleic acids, amino acids, peptides, polypeptides, glycoproteins and any components of the foregoing materials. Preferably, this invention is used in the extraction and detection of immunological materials which are defined herein as materials, which when injected into an immunocompetent host, will produce an immunological response (that is, cause the production of antibodies specific to those materials), as well as the antibodies so produced. The method to detect a ligand of interest can be used to assay any human or animal biological fluid or specimen of interest including, but not limited to, whole blood, plasma, sera, lymphatic fluid, bile, urine, spinal fluid, seminal fluid, vaginal secretions, sputum, perspiration, stool specimens, fluid preparations of tissues, periodontal tissue, dental plaque, crevicular fluid and saliva. The extraction composition described herein is an aqueous buffered solution which keeps background low, especially when several ligands are being detected simultaneously in the same test device. This is seen in the examples below relating to simultaneous detection of microorganisms associated with periodontal diseases. The extraction composition is buffered to a relatively high pH, that is 8 or above. Preferably, the pH of the composition is from 8 to 11 with a pH of 8.5 being most preferred. The appropriate pH can be provided by the use of an appropriate amount of one or more appropriate buffers. A base, such as a hydroxide, may be added to raise the pH to that needed for a given buffer. Glycine is a preferred buffer. One essential component of the extraction composition is a water-soluble cationic surfactant. A mixture of surfactants can be used if desired. By water-solubility is meant that up to 0.5 mg of the compound is soluble in 1 ml water at room temperature. Water-solubility is important to provide optimum access to the antigens being extracted and maintain desired flow characteristics of the resulting solution of extracted antigen, which solution may include some cellular debris. Generally the useful cationic surfactants have one or more cationic groups selected from the group consisting of quaternary ammonium salts, quaternary phosphonium salts, quaternary pyridinium salts, quaternary imidazolium salts and mixtures of any of these. Quaternary ammonium salts are preferred. Generally any cationic surfactant is useful in the present invention as long as it does not adversely affect the antigen being extracted. Many such cationic surfactants meeting those requirements are known in the art. Most known cationic surfactants are not easily characterized by chemical structures, but many of them are commercially available from manufacturers listed in the patent and trade literature. One standard source of such information is McCutcheon's Emulsifiers and Detergents , 1986 (or later editions), McCutcheon Division, Publishing Co., Glen Rock, N.J. Useful cationic surfactants include nonpolymeric aliphatic, heterocyclic or carbocyclic compounds having a molecular weight less than 3000. Preferably, these compounds are aliphatic, heterocyclic or carbocyclic quaternary ammonium compounds. See, for example, EP-A-0 085 448. As used herein, "aliphatic" refers to an organic cationic compound which contains aliphatic (or open-chain) groups connected to the heteroatom (for example, a phosphorus or nitrogen) which provides the positive charge. These groups contain from 1 to 30 carbon atoms and can have oxygen or sulfur atoms interspaced along the chain, provided each compound has at least 1 carbon atom. One or more hydrogen atoms along any aliphatic chain can be replaced with fluorine atoms to provide a fluorinated group. The groups can also be substituted with one or more other halo atoms, aryl, alkoxy, amino, cycloalkyl or other groups. As used herein, the term "heterocyclic" refers to an organic cationic compound having at least one heterocyclic moiety attached to the atom providing the cationic charge. The cationic charge can be within the heterocyclic group if desired, or in another portion of the molecule. It can be aromatic or nonaromatic and can contain nitrogen, sulfur, oxygen or selenium atoms as well as carbon atoms. Generally, the heterocyclic moiety has from 5 to 15 atoms (other than hydrogen atoms) in the mono- or polycyclic ring or nucleus and can be substituted with one or more other organic groups. The term "carbocyclic" refers to an organic compound having one or more carbocyclic moieties attached to the atoms providing the cationic charge. Such moieties include cycloalkyl generally of 5 to 20 carbon atoms, cycloalkenyls generally of 5 to 20 carbon atoms, and aryls generally of 6 to 14 carbon atoms, in the mono- or polycyclic ring or nucleus. They can be unsubstituted or substituted with one or more other organic groups. Representative cationic surfactants useful in this invention include polypropoxy quaternary ammonium chlorides, acetates and phosphates (marketed under the trademark EMCOL from Witco Chemical Co.), fatty acid amidoalkyldimethyl amines (marketed under the trademark SCHERCODINE from Scher Chemical Co.), ethoxylated fatty amines (marketed under the trademark PEGAMEENS from Borg-Warner Chemical Co.), long-chain alkyldiethanol methyl quaternary ammonium chlorides (marketed under the trademark M-QUAT from Mazer Chemical Co.), fatty acid derivatives of imidazolines (marketed under the trademark MONAZOLINE from Mona Industries) and long-chain alkylhydroxyethyl imidazolines (marketed under the trademark ALKAZINE from Alkaril Chemical Co.). Most useful surfactants are the quaternary ammonium salts of polypropoxy- t -amine or a mixture thereof (such as those marketed as EMCOL™ CC-9, CC-36, CC-55 and CC-57 for example). EMCOL™ CC-9 is most preferred. Other useful cationic surfactants include nonyltrimethyl ammonium bromide, dodecyltrimethyl ammonium chloride, hexa-decyltrimethyl ammonium bromide, hexadecylpyridinum bromide, benzyltriethyl ammonium chloride, dido-decyldimethyl ammonium bromide, benzyldimethylphenyl ammonium chloride, tetrahexyl ammonium chloride, stearyldimethylbenzyl ammonium chloride and polypropoxy quaternary ammonium chlorides. The amount of cationic surfactant useful in the composition is at least 0.05 percent (based on total composition weight). Preferably, the amount is from 1 to 10 weight percent. The amount may be adjusted for various surfactants to obtain the optimum results. A second essential component of the extraction composition is an anionic surfactant. In the broadest sense of this invention, the anionic surfactant can be any water-soluble or water-dispersible compound which has a net negative charge and which has the general properties attributed to anionic surfactants. As useful classes of anionic surfactants, one can consider carboxylate and sulfonate salts (such as alkylbenzenecarboxylates, alkylbenzenesulfonates, alkylsulfonates, sulfosuccinate ester salts, formalin condensates of naphthalene and alkylnaphthalenesulfonates), sulfate ester salts (such as alkylsulfate ester salts, polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether sulfate ester salts or polyoxyalkylene alkylaryl ether sulfate ester salts) and phosphate ester salts (such as alkyl phosphate ester salts, polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether phosphate ester salts or polyoxyalkylene alkylaryl ether phosphate ester salts). Others, including cholic acid and salts thereof (such as deoxycholate), would be readily apparent to one skilled in the art. In a preferred embodiment, the anionic surfactant comprises an alkyl sulfate anion having from 6 to 14 carbon atoms (either linear or branched chain, for example hexyl, octyl, decyl, 2-methylhexyl, dodecyl and tetradecyl), and an alkali metal or ammonium cation. Preferably, the sulfate anion has from 8 to 12 carbon atoms with decyl sulfate and dodecyl sulfate being most preferred. Representative alkali metal cations include lithium, sodium, potassium and rubidium. Useful surfactants include ammonium decyl sulfate, sodium dodecyl sulfate, potassium decyl sulfate, lithium hexyl sulfate and sodium tetradecyl sulfate. The corresponding acids of these compounds may also be useful. Sodium dodecyl sulfate is the most preferred compound. A mixture of anionic surfactants can be used if desired. The anionic surfactant is generally present in the extraction composition in an amount of at least 0.05 percent (based on composition weight). Preferably, the amount is from 1 to 10 weight percent. Optional components of the extraction composition include protein carriers such as bovine serum albumin, casein or similar materials, reducing agents such as dithiothrietol, and alcoholamines (such as ethanolamine). Diagnostic test kits can include, in individual packaging or containers, the extraction composition and one or more of a number of other kit components, such as reagents, compositions and assay apparatus or devices needed for a given assay. In a most preferred embodiment, the kit includes, as a ligand receptor, an antibody specific for an antigen extracted from a microorganism associated with periodontal disease, such as an antibody for any of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans , Prevotella intermedia and Porphyromonas gingivalis . It is also preferred that the receptor for a specific binding ligand of interest be detectably labeled (for example with an enzyme or other labeling means) or immobilized on a suitable substrate. Other components of a kit can include detection means such as dye providing compositions (described in more detail below), assay devices, wash compositions, insolubilizing reagents (described below), instructions, pipettes and other apparatus needed for a typical assay. In a more preferred embodiment, the kit includes a disposable test device (described below), and an antibody for the extracted antigen which is immobilized on a particulate substrate, membrane (including polymeric and cellulosic filters), cellulosic sheet or polymeric film. In general, extraction will be carried out at temperatures above 15°C up to the boiling point of water (at atmospheric pressure), with temperatures in the range of from 15 to 40°C being preferred. The time for extraction can vary greatly from a few seconds up to several minutes, but it is generally from 10 seconds to 60 minutes, with from 30 seconds to 10 minutes being most preferred. Moreover, the specimen and extraction composition can be mixed and stored for months prior to assay for the antigen, so there is considerable latitude in the time used for extraction. Extraction can be carried out in a suitable container (such as test tubes, beakers and cuvettes), although some devices have been fashioned specifically for extraction purposes (see for example, US-A-4,746,614). Once a ligand (such as an antigen) is extracted from host cells, virus particle or organism, it may be desirable to remove cellular debris, particulate matter or other unwanted materials by filtration or another means. The extracted antigen can be detected in a number of analytical procedures to detect its presence or amount. Such procedures include, radial immunodiffusion, immunoelectrophoresis and serological tests. Preferably, the extracted antigen is detected using an immunoassay in which it is immunologically reacted with one or more antibodies specific thereto. The resulting immunological complex is detected using suitable techniques including turbidimetric, reflectance, radiometric, colorimetric, fluorometric or chemiluminescent procedures. In particular, the microorganisms Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans , Pornhyromonas gingivalis and Prevotella intermedia are determined, either individually or collectively, using the present invention by extracting antigens from one or all of the serotypes of the microorganisms and detecting each accordingly. However, other microorganisms which are suspected of being associated with periodontal diseases can also be detected or differentiated with this invention. Such other microorganisms include, but are not limited to, Wolinella recta , Bacteroides forsythus , Eikenella corrodens , Fusobacterium nucleatum and Troponema denticola . In some embodiments, it is irrelevant as to which serotypes of any of the microorganisms may be present. In other embodiments, the invention can be used to differentiate among serotypes of a single species as well as among species. Antibodies useful in the practice of this invention can be monoclonal or polyclonal. Polyclonal antibodies can also be produced using standard procedures. Antibodies can be removed from antisera and purified if desired using known procedures and stored in frozen buffered solutions until used. A preferred method for providing highly specific polyclonal antibodies generally calls for injecting a mammal with an immunizing amount of an antigen a first time, injecting the mammal a second time between the second and fourteenth days after the first injection with a boosting amount of the antigen, and beginning the fifteenth day after the first injection, injecting the mammal at least three times every seven day period for at least four seven-day periods with a boosting amount of antigen. An immunizing amount and boosting amount can be readily determined by a skilled worker in the art. After the last booster injection, antisera is removed from the mammal. After extraction of antigen and provision of antibodies specific to that antigen, the method of this invention is carried out by forming a detectable immunological complex of the antigen and antibody. This complex formation can be accomplished in a number of procedures and the present invention is not limited to a specific procedure even though the "sandwich" assays described in detail below are most preferred. In one embodiment, the extracted antigen can be insolubilized by direct adsorption or covalent attachment to a solid substrate, such as polymeric or glass particles, filtration membranes, cellulosic filter papers, solid polymeric or resin-coated films, glass slides or walls of test tubes, glass or polymeric cuvettes and other substrates readily determinable by one of ordinary skill in the art. Such assays are generally known in the art as "direct binding" assays so that the antigen directly binds to the substrate, and antibodies are used to complex with the insolubilized antigen. The antibodies can be detectably labeled to make the complex detectable, or the complex can be detected using an anti-antibody which is suitably labeled and specific to the first unlabeled antibody. Another embodiment of the method of this invention is an agglutination method so that antibodies to the extracted antigen are affixed to small particles in some manner and the particles which are detectable by light scattering or by the presence of a tracer such as dye or radioisotope within the particles. Still other embodiments include competitive immunoassays and enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assays. A preferred embodiment of this invention is an immunometric or sandwich assay in which the extracted antigen is reacted at different epitopic sites with two antibodies, one of which is detectably labeled, and the second being immobilized (or capable of being immobilized such as through avidin-biotin or other specific binding reactions). Preferably, particulate carrier materials formed from organisms, natural or synthetic polymers, glass, ceramics, diatomaceous earth or magnetizable particles are used. These particles are more preferably polymeric, spherical in shape and have an average particle size (in largest dimension) of from 0.01 to 10 µm. The antibodies can be attached to particulate carrier materials to form water-insoluble immunological reagents by physical or chemical means, including adsorption or covalent reaction with reactive groups on the surface of the materials. Covalent attachment is preferred for optimal assay sensitivity. One skilled in the art would readily understand how to prepare such materials to have any of the following reactive groups: carboxy, 2-substituted ethylsulfonyl, vinylsulfonyl, epoxy, aldehyde, active halo atoms, amino, hydrazide and active esters such as succinimidoxy carbonyl. Particularly useful particulate carrier materials are polymeric beads described, for example, in EP-A-0 323 692 which are prepared from one or more ethylenically unsaturated polymerizable monomers having an active halo atom, activated 2-substituted ethylsulfonyl or vinylsulfonyl groups. Other particularly useful particles have reactive carboxy groups and are described in EP-A-0 466 220. Homo- and copolymers described in EP-A-0 323 692 include the following representative materials: poly( m & p -chloromethylstyrene), poly(styrene- co - m & p -chloromethylstyrene- co -2-hydroxyethyl acrylate) (67:30:3 molar ratio), poly[styrene- co - m & p -(2-chloroethylsulfonylmethyl)styrene] (96:4 molar ratio), poly{styrene- co -N-[ m & p -(2-chloroethylsulfonylmethyl)-phenyl]acrylamide} (99.3:0.7 molar ratio), poly( m & p -chloromethylstyrene- co -methyarylic acid) (95:5 molar ratio), poly[styrene- co - m & p -(2-chloroethylsulfonyl-methyl)styrene- co -methacrylic acid] (93.5:4.5:2 molar ratio) and poly[styrene- co -4-(2-chloroethylsulfonylmethyl)styrene] (95.5:4.5 molar ratio). Procedures for attaching antibodies to particles having reactive groups are well known. In general, the antibodies are mixed with the particles under suitable conditions depending upon the attachment form (adsorption, covalent or use of a linking group). More preferably, the immunological reagents described above are coated or deposited on a microporous filtration membrane which is inert to chemical or biological reactions. Useful membrane materials include, but are not limited to, porous natural or synthetic polymers, sintered glass, membranes of glass or polymeric films or fibers, ceramic materials, cellulosic materials and particulate structures composed of beads bound together with an adhesive or binder material. Particularly useful materials are treated or untreated polyamide microporous membranes such as those commercially available from Pall Corp. under the trademarks LOPRODYNE™ and BIODYNE™. The membrane generally has an average pore size in the largest dimension of from 0.5 to 5 µmeters. The water-insoluble immunological reagents having appropriate antibodies can be affixed to the membrane over its entire surface or in defined regions thereof. The membrane can be hand held in the assay to provide sites for complexation of extracted antigen and the antibodies thereon. However, preferably, the membrane is disposed or mounted in a disposable test device or article having a suitable frame and structure for holding the membrane and fluid which is drained therethrough. Many such test devices are known in the art. Particularly useful test devices are those marketed by Eastman Kodak Company under the trademark SURECELL test devices. Preferred test devices have three test wells designed for providing both negative and positive control results as well as a specimen test result. Each test well contains a membrane as described herein. Once the water-insoluble complex of antigen and antibodies is formed (preferably on the membrane), the complex is washed with a suitable wash composition to remove uncomplexed materials prior to detection of the complex. Depending upon the means of detection, the water-insoluble complex can then be detected using a number of standard reagents and methods. For example, the complex may be detected without tracers or signal producing labels using light scattering techniques known in the art. Agglutinates can be similarly detected. Preferably, however, whether the assay format is a direct binding assay or immunometric assay, the immunological complex is detected by means of a detectable label on a water-soluble receptor (such as an antibody) for the ligand. Such labels can include, but are not limited to enzymes, avidin, biotin, radioisotopes, fluorogens and chromogens. Enzymes are preferred and can be used to generate colorimetric, fluorometric or chemiluminescent signals which can be evaluated with the unaided eye or using standard spectrophotometric equipment to measure electromagnetic density, spectra or intensity. Useful enzymes include, but are not limited to peroxidase, urease, alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, glucose oxidase, β-galactosidase and glucosidase. Alkaline phosphatase and peroxidase are preferred with peroxidase being most preferred. For a given enzyme label, there are various known compositions which provide detectable colorimetric, fluorometric or chemiluminescent signals in the presence of the enzyme. For example, one preferred embodiment utilizes a dye-providing composition which provides a dye in the presence of the enzyme through one or more chemical reactions. A number of leuco dyes are known to be useful for this purpose where peroxidase is the label including those described in US-A-4,089,747 and US-A-4,670,386. Alternatively, the enzyme label can be used in one or more reactions to produce a chemiluminescent signal. In the preferred immunometric assay, at some point the antigen is contacted with a detectably labeled water-soluble antibody. This can occur prior to, simultaneously with or subsequent to the formation of the immunological complex, but generally prior to washing with a wash composition. Thus, the complex of antigen and two antibodies is left on the preferred membrane when uncomplexed materials are washed through. Following formation of this sandwich complex and washing, detection is carried out using reagents and procedures described generally above. Positive or negative controls can be carried out simultaneously with assay of the specimen. Depending upon the signal being produced for detection, appropriate reagents can be added to stop signal production, for example by adding reagents to stop the formation of a dye, or the production of light by chemiluminescence. In a preferred method for the determination of a microorganism associated with periodontal disease, the method comprises the steps of: A. extracting an antigen from a specimen containing a microorganism associated with periodontal disease with an aqueous extraction composition buffered to a pH of at least 8 comprising: a. at least 0.05 weight percent of a water-soluble cationic surfactant, and b. at least 0.05 weight percent of an anionic surfactant, the contacting being carried out under time and temperature conditions effective to extract an antigen from the microorganism, B. contacting the extracted antigen with a microporous filtration membrane having thereon, in a discrete zone of a surface of the membrane, a water-insoluble reagent comprising water insoluble particles having affixed thereto antibodies specific to the antigen, to form, in the zone, a water insoluble complex between the antibody and the antigen, B. contacting the water-insoluble complex with a detectably labeled second antibody specific to the antigen to form a detectably labeled, water-insoluble sandwich complex in the zone, C. simultaneously or subsequently to step B, separating uncomplexed materials from the labeled water-insoluble sandwich complex by washing the uncomplexed materials through the membrane, and D. detecting the labeled, water insoluble sandwich complex as a determination of the microorganism in the specimen. More preferably, the method just described is useful for the simultaneous determination or differentiation of a plurality of such microorganisms wherein the membrane has a plurality of distinct and independent zones containing distinct water-insoluble reagents for each of the specific microorganisms of interest. Any or all of the microorganisms Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans , Prevotella intermedia and Porphyromonas gingivalis can be determined in this manner. The method of this invention is generally carried out at room temperature, but higher or lower temperatures may be useful in a given protocol, and certain steps may be carried out at higher temperatures to enhance complexation or other phenomena. The time of the assay can also vary depending upon the type of assay format and there is no intention to limit the present invention to a particular time or format. However, for the preferred immunometric assays carried out using microporous filtration membranes, the time for the assay (including extraction) may be from 2 to 20 minutes. The following examples are included to illustrate the practice of this invention, and are not meant to be limiting in any way. All percentages are by weight unless otherwise noted. Materials and Methods for Examples : SURECELL™ disposable test devices were used containing LOPRODYNE™ nylon microporous filtration membranes (5 µmeters average pore size) incorporated into the three test wells. The membrane was used after coating with FC™ 135 nonionic surfactant (3M Corporation). The wash solution comprised sodium decyl sulfate (1.8%) in phosphate buffered saline solution (pH 7.2). A dye-providing composition was prepared to include 4,5-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-(3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl)imidazole leuco dye (0.008%), poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (1%), sodium phosphate buffer (10 mM, pH 6.8), hydrogen peroxide (10 mmolar), 4'-hydroxyacetanilide (2 mmolar) and diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (10 µM). The dye stop solution comprised sodium azide (0.1%) in phosphate buffered saline solution. Various extraction compositions were tried, as described below. Polyclonal antibodies directed against each of the three microorganisms Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans ( A.a. ), Prevotella intermedia ( P.i. ) and Porphyromonas gingivalis ( P.g. ) were prepared by intravenous injection of rabbits. IgG fractions were prepared by ammonium sulfate precipitation, and stored at 4°C in phosphate buffered saline solution (0.3-0.4% solution). Isolates were subcultured on anaerobic plates. The microorganisms were those identified by the deposit numbers of ATCC 43717, ATCC 43718 and ATCC 43719 for A.a. (serotypes A, B and C, respectively), ATCC 25611, NCTC 9336 and ATCC 49046 for P.i. (serotypes A, B and C, respectively) and ATCC 33277, ATCC 53978 and ATCC 53977 for P.g. (serotypes A, B and C, respectively). ATCC is the American Type Culture Collection (Rockville, Maryland) and NCTC is the National Collection of Type Cultures (London, U.K.). Water insoluble reagents were prepared by covalently binding antibodies specific to each microorganism (all of serotypes A, B and C) to polymeric particles (1 µm average diameter) of poly[styrene- co -4-(2-chloroethylsulfonylmethyl)styrene] (95.5:4.5 molar ratio) which had been prepared using the procedures of EP-A-0 323 692 (noted above). Covalent attachment was achieved by adding the antibodies specific to a given microorganism (0.75 mg/ml final solution with 0.25 mg/ml of each serotype A, B and C) to a solution of borate buffer (0.05 molar, pH 8.5) in a test tube and mixing well. The polymeric particles (3% solids) were added to the buffered mixture, and the resulting suspension was rotated end-over-end for 4-24 hours at room temperature to allow covalent attachment of the antibodies to the particles. The suspension was then centrifuged at 2800 rpm for 10 minutes. The supernatant was discarded and the pellet was suspended in glycine buffer (0.1%, pH 8.5) containing merthiolate (0.01%). A coating suspension of the reagent described above (0.95% solids) was prepared to have polyacrylamide binder (5%), in glycine buffer (0.1 molar, pH 8.5). Each reagent directed to a distinct antigen was coated in defined regions of the membrane in the test devices described above. Enzyme-antibody conjugates were prepared using antibodies directed to each microorganism conjugated to horseradish peroxidase using the procedure of Yoshitake et al, Eur.J.Biochem. , 101 , 395, 1979. Each conjugate composition comprised the conjugates (7.5-15 µg of each antibody per ml) added to a solution of casein [0.5%, from a 1% solution in 0.1 molar 3-(N-morpholino)propanesulfonic acid buffer, pH 7.5], TWEEN™ 20 nonionic surfactant (0.3%), merthiolate (0.01%), 4'-hydroxyacetanilide (10 mmolar) in buffer (0.1 molar, pH 7.5). The amount of antibody specific for A.a. (all serotypes) and P.g. (all serotypes) was 10 µg/ml. For P.i. (serotypes A and C), the amount was 7.5 µg/ml, and for serotype B it was 15 µg/ml. Example 1 Preferred Extraction Composition and Comparisons of Assays Using Various Extraction Compositions A preferred extraction composition used in this invention was prepared by mixing sodium dodecyl sulfate anionic surfactant (5%) and EMCOL™ CC-9 cationic surfactant (5%) in glycine buffer (0.1 molar, pH 8.5). A comparison was made using various conventional extraction compositions. In the comparisons, the control assays were carried out using the following compositions for antigen extraction: Control A:Distilled water. Control B:Phosphate buffered saline solution (0.05 molar, pH 7.3). Control C:Sodium dodecyl sulfate (0.1%) in water. Control D:Sodium dodecyl sulfate (1%) in water. Control E:Sodium dodecyl sulfate (10%) in water. Control F:Sodium dodecyl sulfate (0.1%) in glycine buffer (0.1 molar, pH 8.5). Control G:Sodium dodecyl sulfate (10%) in glycine buffer (0.1 molar, pH 8.5). Control H:Sodium dodecyl sulfate (10%) in succinate buffer (0.1 molar, pH 4.5). Control I:EMCOL™ CC-9 cationic surfactant (7.5%) in glycine buffer (0.1 molar, pH 8.5). Extraction Procedure: Each extraction composition was used in the following manner. An appropriate volume of a stock solution of microorganisms (1 x 10 9 cells/ml) was mixed with the extraction composition for about 1 minute at room temperature to yield the desired cell concentration. The amount of cells in the final solution was as follows: For the data provided in Table I below, for Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans ( A.a. ), serotypes A and B, antigen dilution "12" contained 9.8 x 10 5 cells/ml, antigen dilution "14" contained 2.4 x 10 5 cells/ml, and antigen dilution "18" contained 1.5 x 10 4 cells/ml. For serotype C, antigen dilution "10" contained 3.9 x 10 6 cells/ml, antigen dilution "14" contained 2.4 x 10 5 cells/ml and antigen "16" contained 6.0 x 10 4 cells/ml. For the data provided in Table II below, for A.a. , all serotypes, antigen dilution "10" contained 3.9 x 10 6 cells/ml, antigen dilution "14" contained 2.4 x 10 5 cells/ml, and antigen dilution "18" contained 1.5 x 10 4 cells/ml. For Prevotella intermedia ( P.i. ) and Porphyromonas gingivalis ( P.g. ), antigen dilution "5" contained 1.3 x 10 8 cells/ml, antigen dilution "8" contained 1.6 x 10 7 cells/ml, and antigen dilution "11" contained 2.0 x 10 6 cells/ml. Assay Procedure: A sample (50 µl) of each extractant provided above from the extraction procedure was added to each test well of a disposable test device as described above and fluid was allowed to drain through the membranes in the test wells as the extracted antigen complexed with the immunological reagent (containing antibodies) on the membranes. Immediately, the conjugate of peroxidase and antibody (40 µl) was added to the well and sandwich complex formation was allowed for 5 minutes incubation at room temperature. Each test well was half filled with the wash solution (about 400 µl) which then drained through the membrane. This was repeated once. After the last wash, the dye-providing composition (40 µl) was added to each test well followed by a 2 minute incubation at room temperature. The resulting dye signal was then visually evaluated and compared to a calibrated color chart containing reflectance density values. The reflection densities were then converted to transmission density (D T ) values using the conventional Williams-Clapper transformation (see J.Optical Soc.Am. , 43 , 595, 1953). The results were then tabulated as shown below. D T values of 0.003 or less correspond to a visual evaluation or "no dye signal". The results, as seen in the tables below are explained as follows. Table I shows data from assays of extracted antigens from serotypes A, B and C of A.a. using Controls A-E. As the amount of sodium dodecyl sulfate used in the composition was increased, the background signals were decreased, but the sensitivity to extracted antigen from serotypes B and C steadily decreased. This is highly undesirable, of course, because it is clinically important to detect all three serotypes of this microorganism to have a commercially viable assay. Dye Signals (D T ) A.a. Serotype Antigen Dilution # Control A Control B Control C Control D Control E A 12 0.057 0.114 0.114 0.145 0.195 14 0.022 0.057 0.057 0.089 0.145 18 neg neg 0.019 0.022 0.019 B 12 0.042 0.101 0.114 0.114 0.073 14 0.019 0.027 0.057 0.042 0.026 18 neg neg 0.015 0.019 neg C 10 0.114 0.114 0.185 0.145 0.114 14 neg neg 0.027 0.019 neg 16 neg neg 0.015 neg neg Further results are illustrated in Table II below where several other control extraction compositions were compared to that used in Example 1. Putting sodium dodecyl sulfate in glycine buffer (pH 8.5, Controls F and G) somewhat improved the sensitivity of the assays, especially for serotypes B and C of A.a. Sodium dodecyl sulfate in an acidic medium (Control H) was no better than Control H using the same amount of surfactant at high pH. Using the cationic surfactant alone (Control I) improved the sensitivity for antigens of serotypes B and C, but the sensitivity for the serotype A antigen was unacceptable. Only Example 1, using a composition containing both cationic and anionic surfactants at high pH, provided desired extraction and sensitivity of all serotypes of A.a. without losing any sensitivity to the antigens extracted from all serotypes of P.i. and P.g. , and at the same time keeping the background signals acceptably low. Dye Signals (D T ) Microorganism Serotype Antigen Dilution # Control F Control G Control H Control I Example1 A.a. A 10 0.114 0.175 0.145 0.145 0.175 14 0.073 0.101 0.073 0.042 0.073 18 0.022 0.024 neg 0.004 0.024 A.a. B 10 0.101 0.145 0.114 0.101 0.114 14 0.022 0.025 0.005 0.024 0.025 18 neg 0.005 neg 0.015 0.015 A.a C 10 0.101 0.101 0.101 0.114 0.114 14 0.022 0.022 neg 0.027 0.025 18 neg neg neg 0.004 0.018 P.g. A 5 0.215 0.215 0.215 0.215 0.215 8 0.185 0.195 0.185 0.185 0.195 11 0.114 0.145 0.101 0.101 0.175 P.g. B 5 0.215 0.215 0.205 0.185 0.215 8 0.175 0.185 0.175 0.175 0.185 11 0.089 0.101 0.101 0.101 0.114 P.g. C 5 0.215 0.215 0.215 0.185 0.205 8 0.175 0.175 0.175 0.175 0.185 11 0.073 0.073 0.073 0.101 0.101 P.i. A 5 0.215 0.215 0.215 0.195 0.215 8 0.185 0.195 0.175 0.145 0.195 11 0.114 0.101 0.101 0.114 0.114 P.i. B 5 0.175 0.185 0.175 0.114 0.195 8 0.145 0.101 0.101 0.073 0.114 11 0.042 0.025 0.022 0.024 0.022 P.i. C 5 0.175 0.195 0.175 0.114 0.215 8 0.114 0.145 0.114 0.089 0.175 11 0.024 0.042 0.042 0.024 0.057 Example 2 Sandwich Assay Using Preferred Extraction and Wash Compositions This example demonstrates the use of a preferred extraction composition (Example 1) with a preferred wash composition. Wash Compositions The wash composition used was composed of TERGITOL™ 4 anionic surfactant (2.7%) in phosphate buffer (0.1 molar, pH 10). Assay Procedure : Antigen from ATCC 53978 [serotype B, P.g. ] was extracted by subjecting the cells to the extraction composition used in Example 1 for a few seconds at room temperature to achieve a final concentration of 1.25 x 10 8 total cells/ml. The extract (450 µl) was filtered through a 1.2 µmeter membrane and added to one test well of the test device described above. The membrane of the test device had defined regions of reagents specific for each of A.a. , P.g. and P.i. Fluid was allowed to drain through the membrane in the test well. Antibody conjugate composition (80 µl) was immediately added to each test well followed by incubation for two minutes at room temperature (about 20-25°C). The wash solution (500 µl) was then added to each test well and allowed to drain, followed by a second wash (500 µl). A dye-providing composition (80 µl) like that described above (except comprising 0.5 mmolar of 4'-hydroxyacetanilide) was added to each test well followed by a one minute incubation at room temperature. The dye signal was then visually evaluated and compared to a calibrated color chart containing reflectance density values. The reflection densities were then converted to transmission density (D T ) using the Williams-Clapper transformation [see J.Optical Soc.Am. , 43 , p. 595 (1953)]. D T values of 0.003 or less correspond to a visual evaluation of "no dye signal". The results were then tabulated as follows in Table III. D T Dye Signal Assay P.g. Reagent P.i. Reagent A.a. Reagent Example 2 0.101 0.003 0.003

Claims: A diagnostic test kit for the immunometric assay of microbial antigens comprising, in separate packaging, at least one of the following: (a) an enzyme labeled, water-soluble receptor for a specific binding ligand of interest, (b) a disposable test device, (c) a wash composition for separating uncomplexed materials from a complex of a ligand of interest and its receptor, the composition comprising at least one surfactant, (d) a composition for providing a colorimetric, fluorometric or chemiluminescent signal in the presence of an enzyme label, and (e) a receptor for a ligand cf interest, which receptor is insolubilized, or capable of being insolubilized, the kit characterized wherein it also comprises an aqueous extraction composition buffered to a pH of at least 8 comprising: a. at least 0.05 weight percent of a water-soluble cationic surfactant, and b. at least 0.05 weight percent of an anionic surfactant. The kit as claimed in claim 1 wherein the receptor is an antibody specific to an antigen extracted from a microorganism associated with periodontal disease. The kit as claimed in any of claims 1 and 2 wherein the receptor is an antibody specific to any of the microorganisms Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans , Prophyromonas gingivalis and Prevotella intermedia . A method for the extraction of an antigen from a microorganism comprising: contacting a specimen suspected of containing a microorganism or virus of interest with an aqueous extraction composition buffered to a pH of at least 8 comprising: a. at least 0.05 weight percent of a water-soluble cationic surfactant, and b. at least 0.05 weight percent of an anionic surfactant, the contacting being carried out under time and temperature conditions effective to extract an antigen from the microorganism. A method according to claim 4 further comprising the steps of forming a detectable immunological complex of the extracted antigen and an antibody specific to the antigen, and detecting the complex as a determination of the presence of the microorganism or virus in the specimen. The method as claimed in claim 5 for the determination of a microorganism associated with periodontal disease wherein the time of extraction is from 10 seconds to 60 minutes, and the temperature of extraction is from 15 to 40°C. The method as claimed in either of claims 5 and 6 wherein the antibody is cetectably labeled, and the extracted antigen is also contacted with a unlabeled antibody specific thereto which is insolubilized or capable of being insolubilized during the method. The method as claimed in claim 7 wherein the detectably labeled antibody is enzyme labeled, and detection of the complex is accomplished by contacting the complex with a composition which provides a colorimetric or chemiluminescent signal in the presence of the enzyme. The method as claimed in any of claims 5 to 8 for the simultaneous determination of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans , Porphyromonas gingivalis and Prevotella intermedia . The invention as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9 wherein the cationic surfactant is present in an amount of from 1 to 10 weight percent, and has cationic groups which are quaternary ammonium salts, quaternary phosphonium salts, quaternary pyridinium salts, quaternary imidazolium salts or any mixtures of any of these, and the anionic surfactant is present in an amount of from 1 to 10 weight percent, and has a sulfate anion having from 6 to 14 carbon atoms and an alkali metal or ammonium cation.

Inventors: ABRAMS CATHERINE THERESA C O E, CONTESTABLE PAUL BERNARD C O E, GROGAN ELIZABETH ANN, SNYDER BRIAN ANTHONY, ABRAMS, CATHERINE THERESA, CONTESTABLE, PAUL BERNARD, GROGAN, ELIZABETH ANN,, SNYDER, BRIAN ANTHONY, Abrams, Catherine Theresa, c/o Eastman Kodak, Contestable, Paul Bernard, c/o Eastman Kodak, Grogan, Elizabeth Ann, c/o Eastman Kodak, Snyder, Brian Anthony, c/o Eastman Kodak
Applicants: EASTMAN KODAK CO, EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
Application year: 1992
Main classification: G01N33
IPC codes: G01N33