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J Bacteriol. 1968 July; 96(1): 131-138
Copyright © 1968 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Dynamics in Development of Experimental Streptococcal Immunity in Mice

¹ Department of Microbiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 945219, and The House of the Good Samaritan, Cincinnati, Ohio 45219, Children's Hospital Medical Center and Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115

ABSTRACT

The interrelation between the humoral and cellular factors in the development of immunity to experimental streptococcal infection was investigated. Early resistance to infection was caused by stimulating the phagocytic cells to function efficiently in the absence of opsonins. Subsequently, the appearance of cytophilic antibodies provided further means for elimination of streptococci. Thus, in the early stages of specific antistreptococcal immunity, resistance was observed in the absence of circulating anti-M antibodies. The type-specific antibodies that appeared in the later stage did not seem to improve clearance of streptococci in the splanchnic tissues. After an intravenous lethal challenge of mice with virulent streptococci, these antibodies did not provide increased protection. The circulating anti-M antibodies were shown to play a beneficial, indeed, a crucial, role when the infection occurred in a region in which the phagocytic cells were present in a rather limited number.