Eugene A. Gorzynski

Identification of An Antigen Common to Listeria monocytogenes and Other Bacteria.

Summary L. monocytogenes (types 1, 2, 3, 4a, and 4b) produces a heterogenetic antigen demonstrable by hemagglutination test with suitable antisera. Sheep erythrocytes modified by this antigen are lysed in presence of (rabbit) antiserum and guinea pig complement. Antibodies against this antigen are present in certain L. monocytogenes and S. aureus (rabbit) antisera and can be removed by absorption with either L. monocytogenes (of all types), S. aureus, or B. subtilis. The findings may help to avoid a possible pitfall in interpretation of serologic tests for species specific L. monocytogenes antibodies.

Studies on Bacterial Hemagglutination

+ More than half a century ago, Kraus and Ludwig 1 made the interesting observation that certain bacteria, namely, staphylococci and vibrios agglutinate red blood cells. These studies on bacterial hemagglutination were extended during the following decades. However, it was not until after 1941, when the classical investigations on virus hemagglutination were published by Hirst 2 and by McClelland and Hare,3 that renewed interest in bacterial hemagglutination developed. As a result of these studies, it is now possible to recognize two basically different types of bacterial hemagglutination. In the first type, the bacteria bring forth agglutination of suitable red blood cells; this type may be referred to as direct bacterial hemagglutination. In the second type, the bacteria cause a change of the red blood cells, rendering them susceptible

Effects of lipoid A component of Escherichia coli endotoxin on dermal reactivity of rabbits to epinephrine.

Summary The purified and polysaccharide-free lipoid A component of E. coli 0111: B4 endotoxin, upon intravenous injection into rabbits, strikingly alters dermal reactivity to epinephrine. Grossly, the lesions thus produced are red or brownish in appearance or show marked hemorrhages. Lipoid A is active in amounts as small as 2 μg kg. The original lipopolysaccharide is approximately 10 times more potent than the lipoid A fraction obtained therefrom. Phenoxybenzamine hydrochloride inhibits the epinephrine reaction in rabbits injected with lipoid A.

INHIBITION BY LIPOPOLYSACCHARIDE (ENDOTOXIN) OF ANTIBODY RESPONSE OF RABBIT TO COMMON ANTIGEN OF ENTEROBACTERIACEAE.

Summary A common antigen (CA) is present in many species and serogroups of enteric bacteria, but only the antigen from E. coli O14 engenders CA antibodies in the rabbit upon intravenous injection. The ethanol soluble fraction of the former, however, induces the formation of CA antibodies. The present study has revealed that lipopolysaccharides (endotoxins) inhibit this CA antibody response. This inhibition was observed regularly when CA and lipopolysaccharides were injected as mixtures, but not when administered separately, although simultaneously, into different veins. Injection of mixtures prepared in ethanol were even less immunogenic than those prepared in water. A single preparation of lipoid A also inhibited the CA antibody response. It is postulated that the poor immunogenicity of enteric bacteria, other than E. coli O14, is due to the inhibitory effect of the lipopolysaccharide on the fully immunogenic CA.

Effect of Common Enterobacterial Antiserum on Experimental Salmonella typhimurium Infection of Mice

Summary The protection afforded against Salmonella typhimurium (C5S) infection by antibodies to the common enterobacterial antigen (CA) was determined in Swiss albino and C57BL/6Ha mice; animals inoculated with the preimmunization sera from the identical rabbits served as controls. Comparison of death rates revealed that CA antisera, obtained from rabbits immunized with either the ethanol-soluble CA of Escherichia coli O111 or CA of E. coli O14, provided slight to moderate, but only temporary, protection against 10 LD50 or 1 × 104 LD50 challenge.

The opsonin response of human subjects to common enterobacterial antigen.

Serum specimens obtained from 10 human volunteers immunized intravenously with ethanol soluble common enterobacterial antigen (CA) obtained from E. coli 0111 were tested for opsonizing capacity, utilizing E. coli 07 as indicator organism. Increase in opsonizing activity between pre- and post-immunization specimens was documented in 9 out of 10 subjects, the statistical significance being 0.05 or less in 5 of these individuals. In none of the subjects was the pre-imni-zation serum specimen more effective or as effective as the post-immunization specimen. Absorption of post-immunization serum with human erythrocytes modified by CA from S. typhimurium reduced the opsonizing activity. The specificity of the opsonin response was documented also by the demonstration of enhanced phagocytosis of a rough CA-producing but not a rough CA-negative mutant of S. typhimurium. Although only half of the experiments revealed statistically strongly significant data, all pointed to increased opsonizing capacity due to antibo...

Differences in antibody responses of mouse strains to enterobacterial common antigen.

Summary The genetic influence of various mouse strains on antibody response to the common antigen (CA) of Enterobacteriaceae was determined. Four strains of mice, three inbred and one random-bred, were injected ip with CA of E. coli 014 or 0111, with or without incomplete Freunds adjuvant. CA antibody titers, determined by hemagglutination tests, revealed the following: CBA/St and C57BL/6Ha mice responsed significantly better than did DBA/2Jax and Swiss albino mice; ethanol-soluble CA from E. coli 0111 was a better immunogen than was CA from E: cold 014; adjuvant did not enhance immunogenicity of CA in responding mice; highest titers were noted 5 days after the third injection of CA, persisted for 2 weeks, and declined by the end of 2 months; and a subsequent injection of CA failed to elicit a secondary response.

Hemolysis in immune rabbits of autologous erythrocytes modified with common enterobacterial antigen

In Kaninchen, die mit gemeinsamem Antigen der intestinalen Bakterien immunisiert waren, sowie in nichtimmunisierte Kaninchen wurden Eigenerythrocyten, die mit dem Antigen vorbehandelt waren, intravenös injiziert.In vivo-Hämolyse-wurde nur bei den immunisiertem Tieren beobachtet. Erythrocyten, die mit heterologem Staphylokokken-Antigen vorbehandelt waren, wurden nicht hämolysiert.

DIFFERENCES IN ANTIBODY RESPONSE OF RABBIT TO ENTEROBACTERIAL ANTIGEN AFTER INTRAVENOUS AND SUBCUTANEOUS INJECTION WITH ADJUVANT.

Summary The antibody response of the rabbit to administration of various enteric bacteria containing both O antigen and an antigen (CA) common to numerous enteric bacilli was studied with the following results: (1) Administration into the footpad of antigen from E. coli 0111 and 026, S. typhimurium, or S. flexneri, together with Freunds adjuvant, resulted in formation of both CA and O antibodies in high titer. Even a single injection of antigen and complete adjuvant proved to be effective. Complete adjuvant was more effective than incomplete adjuvant. (2) Antigen (supernate) alone injected into the footpad also engendered CA antibodies, although the titers were considerably lower than those obtained after administration with adjuvant. (3) Intravenous injection of these antigens did not result in production of CA antibodies in high titer, but O antibody titers were similar to those achieved with adjuvant. (4) Intravenous administration of S. typhimurium antigen into animals injected previously with Freunds adjuvant into the footpad, failed to elicit CA antibody production. (5) Feeding of viable E. coli 014 led to a moderate CA antibody response. In contrast, feeding of S. sonnei or E. coli 0111 engendered O antibodies but not CA antibodies.

Erythrocyte-Modifying Capacity of Shigella dysenteriae (SHIGA) Antigen and Its Polysaccharide Component.∗

Summary The erythrocyte-modifying capacity of the S. dysenteriae (shiga) antigen complex and its polysaccharide fraction was studied with the following results: 1. Both materials modified red blood cells of sheep, man, rabbit, guinea pig for subsequent specific agglutination by homologous bacterial antibodies obtained from rabbit and horse. The antigens were somewhat more effective after being heated at 100°C for one hour. 2. In the presence of guinea pig complement and homologous bacterial (rabbit) antiserum lysis occurred of modified sheep red blood cells but not of human erythrocytes; lysis of modified sheep and human red blood cells was not effected by an equine antiseurm. 3. The polysaccharide fraction could be measured as a specific inhibitor of hemagglutination in amounts as small as .006 μg and proved to be twice as effective as the antigen complex. In contrast, the whole antigen was somewhat more active in modifying red blood cells than the polysaccharide component. 4. Of 60 random human sera 18 contained S. dysenteriae hemagglutinins, which were specifically absorbed by either the whole antigen or its polysaccharide fraction.