Hypersensitivity in Mice with Experimental Histoplasmosis

[摘要] A high percentage of mice infected with Histoplasma capsulatum succumbed within 48 hours after challenge by the intraperitoneal route with large numbers of cells of the yeast phase. Deaths within this period did not occur in mice not previously sensitized by a sublethal dose of organisms. An increase in the size of the sensitizing dose increased the response to a standard shocking dose. Intracerebral and intraperitoneal routes of inoculation best served to sensitize the mice. Although increased resistance to reinfection developed within 4 to 5 days after administration of sublethal numbers of H. capsulatum , the hypersensitive state did not become manifest for about 9 to 14 days. This latter interval could be shortened by increasing the size of the dose. Dead cells were effective in mice as shocking agents but were ineffective as sensitizing agents. None of six other pathogenic fungi induced hypersensitivity to challenge with cells of H. capsulatum .

[学科分类] 生物科学（综合）