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Granulocyte-dependent Autoantibody-induced Skin Blistering
Published on: October 12, 2012
SKIN INFECTION OF RABBITS WITH HEMOLYTIC STREPTOCOCCI ISOLATED FROM A PATIENT WITH ERYSIPELAS : I. METHOD OF
1Hospital of The Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research.
Abstract:
Cultures of a hemolytic streptococcus isolated from a human case of erysipelas were tested for ability to produce lesions by injecting various amounts intradermally in shaved rabbits. Severe lesions could be developed at will in this way despite the fact that intravenous or intraperitoneal inoculations of large doses of the cultures failed to kill. The lesions were of two sorts, phlegmonous and erysipelas-like. A serum capable of warding off the injurious action of the streptococcus on the skin was procured from animals receiving repeated intracutaneous inoculations of the organism. Normal serum by contrast had no protective effect. By intradermal injections at several points in the same normal rabbit of small quantities of mixtures of equal parts of serum and various dilutions of a suspension of streptococci it proved possible to test sera for the presence of substances protective against the streptococcus.
Insights
Researchers found that intradermal injections of hemolytic streptococcus in rabbits caused skin lesions. A protective serum was developed from rabbits repeatedly inoculated with the bacteria, demonstrating its efficacy against streptococcal skin injury.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Immunology
- Dermatology
Background:
- Hemolytic streptococcus is a pathogen associated with human erysipelas.
- The ability of this bacterium to induce skin lesions and the potential for developing protective immunity were not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the capacity of hemolytic streptococcus to produce skin lesions in rabbits.
- To develop and test a serum for protective effects against streptococcal skin injury.
Main Methods:
- Cultures of hemolytic streptococcus were injected intradermally into rabbits to induce lesions.
- Serum was obtained from rabbits receiving repeated intracutaneous inoculations of the organism.
- The protective capacity of the procured serum was assessed by intradermal injections of streptococcus-serum mixtures in normal rabbits.
Main Results:
- Intradermal inoculation of hemolytic streptococcus reliably produced phlegmonous and erysipelas-like skin lesions in rabbits.
- Intravenous or intraperitoneal administration of large bacterial doses did not result in fatalities.
- Serum from inoculated rabbits demonstrated a protective effect against streptococcal skin injury, unlike normal serum.
Conclusions:
- Hemolytic streptococcus can induce significant skin lesions via intradermal inoculation in rabbits.
- A protective serum against streptococcal skin damage can be generated through repeated intracutaneous immunization.
- This study provides a method for testing sera for protective substances against streptococcus.
