A Property of Immune Sera Inhibitory for the Growth of the Tubercle Bacillus

[摘要] A strong inhibitory effect upon tubercle bacilli appears in the serum of tuberculous and BCG-vaccinated guinea pigs. In infected animals, this effect is present throughout the disease period; in the latter case it is present only for 2.5–3 months after a vaccinating dose. Investigation of the inhibitory factor revealed the following features: 1. 1. It progressively loses its activity at 65°C but remains intact at 56°C for 1 hr and, thus, does not require complement.2. 2. It cannot be adsorbed from serum by heavy emulsions of tubercle bacilli.3. 3. It requires calcium for its activity; addition of citrate to serum or dialysis of serum against saline, with chelation or loss of calcium, respectively results in an inactivation of the inhibitory factor which is reversible by the addition of calcium.4. 4. It migrates electrophoretically with the α-globulins.5. 5. It is specifically inhibitory for tubercle bacilli, but its formation can be induced by a heavy infection of guinea pigs with staphylococci.6. 6. Its formation is not suppressed by total body irradiation.The factor may be an acute-phase substance with highly specific and striking tuberculostatic activity. Its possible significance to acquired immunity in guinea pigs remains to be assessed.

[学科分类] 生物科学（综合）