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IMMUNOLOGICAL REACTIONS BETWEEN AGAR-AGAR AND SOME BACTERIAL ANTISERA
The Journal of Experimental Medicine
|October 30, 2009
Summary
Agar adsorbed on bacteria induces agar-reacting antibodies. Organisms grown on agar can cause false reactions in these sera, suggesting chemical similarities with pneumococcus C substance.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Microbiology
- Bacteriology
Background:
- Agar can adsorb onto bacterial surfaces.
- Agar adsorption can elicit an immune response in animals.
- Previous studies by Sordelli and Mayer indicated antibody production.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate false cross-agglutination and precipitin reactions.
- To explore the immunological relationship between agar and bacterial substances.
- To re-evaluate existing findings in the field, specifically Zozaya's publication.
Main Methods:
- Induction of agar-reacting antibodies in animals by injecting bacteria with adsorbed agar.
- Testing sera containing agar-reacting antibodies against organisms grown on agar.
- Immunological analysis to compare reactive groups of agar-agar and pneumococcus C substance.
Main Results:
- Organisms grown on agar produced false cross-agglutination and precipitin reactions in sera with agar-reacting antibodies.
- Suggestive immunological evidence points to chemical similarities between agar-agar and pneumococcus C substance.
Conclusions:
- Agar adsorbed on bacteria can lead to misleading immunological test results.
- There is a potential chemical similarity between agar and pneumococcus C substance, impacting immunological interpretations.
- Revisions to previous findings, such as Zozaya's work, may be necessary based on these results.
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