The Significance of Bacterial Allergy As a Sign of Resistance

[摘要] We have been occupied for a number of years in the study of bacterial allergy, focusing particularly upon the tuberculin reaction, since this represents the most easily observed and thoroughly controlled form of bacterial hypersusceptibility. In previous studies we had satisfied ourselves that such reactions in bacterial infection differed in several fundamental respects from true protein anaphylaxis. This discrepancy we believe depends upon the fact that the chemical and physical properties of the bacterial constituents which take part in these reactions differ materially from those of the coagulable proteins involved in true anaphylaxis. With Petroff, one of the writers has shown that tuberculin allergy, of considerable intensity and over prolonged periods, can be induced with dead tubercle bacilli, and, with this determined, it seemed advisable to investigate whether or not allergy so induced could establish increased resistance against subsequent infection with living organisms.

[学科分类] 生物科学（综合）