Studies on the Bactericidal Reaction

[摘要] Data have been presented which support the view that specific bactericidal sensitization of Salmonella typhosa O 901 cells is impeded by the action of a second antibody directed against a widely distributed antigen (R-antigen). This inhibiting antibody has been shown to mediate the bactericidal sensitization of S. typhosa O 901 cells which had been coated with an antigenic extract obtained from R-state cells. The presence of some R-receptors on the surface of unmodified S. typhosa O 901 cells has been demonstrated, and it has been suggested that other apparently S-state Salmonella strains also possess on their cell surface a small number of exposed R-receptors. The possibly intimate spatial association of R-receptors with receptors of the characteristic somatic (0) antigens has been discussed. It has been concluded that probably less than 2 × 103 molecules of antibody are required to sensitize the average S. typhosa O 901 cell to the bactericidal action of complement, and evidence has been presented which shows that this amount of antibody is probably less than one per cent of the total amount of antibody that can be taken up by cells of this strain.

[学科分类] 生物科学（综合）