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THE PRODUCTION AND SIGNIFICANCE OF CUTANEOUS ALLERGY TO PNEUMOCOCCUS PROTEIN
1Department of Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, and the Presbyterian Hospital, New York.
The Journal of Experimental Medicine
|October 30, 2009
Summary
Intracutaneous injections of pneumococcus extract induce skin allergy in guinea pigs, which can then disappear with continued injections. This allergy did not alter susceptibility to pneumococcus infection.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Microbiology
- Dermatology
Background:
- Pneumococcus infections can elicit immune responses.
- Allergic skin reactions are a key indicator of immune sensitization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the development and resolution of skin allergy in guinea pigs following pneumococcus extract injection.
- To determine if induced skin allergy affects susceptibility to pneumococcus infection.
Main Methods:
- Guinea pigs received intracutaneous injections of an alkaline pneumococcus extract.
- Skin reactions were monitored for allergy development and disappearance.
- Susceptibility to intraperitoneal pneumococcus infection was assessed.
Main Results:
- Approximately two-thirds of guinea pigs developed a skin allergy resembling tuberculosis allergic responses.
- Continued injections led to the disappearance of skin allergy (desensitization).
- Neither allergic nor non-allergic guinea pigs showed altered susceptibility to pneumococcus infection.
Conclusions:
- Intracutaneous pneumococcus extract can induce a transient, desensitizable skin allergy in guinea pigs.
- The induced skin allergy does not impact the animals' resistance to systemic pneumococcus infection.
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