Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 19, 2026
12:33
Determination of Biofilm Initiation on Virus-infected Cells by Bacteria and Fungi
Published on: July 6, 2016
THE IMMUNOLOGICAL SPECIFICITY OF STAPHYLOCOCCI : III. INTERRELATIONSHIPS OF CELL CONSTITUENTS
1Oscar Johnson Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis.
The Journal of Experimental Medicine
|October 30, 2009
Summary
Staphylococcus carbohydrates are type-specific and can cause immediate skin reactions in infected patients, while Staphylococcus protein is species-specific, antigenic, and causes delayed inflammatory skin reactions in hypersensitive individuals.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Microbiology
- Dermatology
Background:
- Staphylococcus bacteria possess distinct antigenic components, including carbohydrates and proteins.
- Understanding the immunogenic properties of these components is crucial for diagnosing and managing Staphylococcus infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the immunological specificity and antigenicity of Staphylococcus carbohydrates and proteins.
- To determine the potential diagnostic applications of these bacterial components in skin reactions.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of type-specific carbohydrates from Staphylococcus.
- Assessment of antibody induction in rabbits following exposure to carbohydrates and proteins.
- Evaluation of skin reactions in hypersensitive individuals upon exposure to Staphylococcus components.
Main Results:
- Staphylococcus carbohydrates are type-specific but fail to induce antibody formation in rabbits, even after modification.
- These specific carbohydrates can elicit immediate, type-specific skin reactions in patients with Staphylococcus infection.
- Staphylococcus protein is species-specific, antigenic, induces species-specific antibodies in rabbits, and causes delayed inflammatory skin reactions in hypersensitive individuals.
Conclusions:
- Staphylococcus carbohydrates serve as type-specific antigens for diagnostic skin testing in infected patients.
- Staphylococcus protein acts as a species-specific antigen, relevant for understanding delayed hypersensitivity reactions.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Staphylococcal Skin Infections
Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram-positive coccus that resides harmlessly on the skin and mucous membranes of healthy individuals. When the skin barrier is breached, it can shift from a commensal to an opportunistic pathogen. This transition is facilitated by surface adhesins, such as clumping factor B and S. aureus surface protein G (SasG), which bind to structural proteins, including loricrin and cytokeratin, in the damaged epidermis. Protein A, another key factor, binds the Fc region of...
01:13Special Staining Techniques
Specialized staining techniques play a vital role in microbiology by enabling the visualization of specific bacterial structures that remain undetectable with standard microscopy methods. These techniques not only enhance the structural visualization of bacterial cells but also provide critical insights into their pathogenicity and classification. Additionally, they support diagnostic and research endeavors in microbiology by identifying key bacterial features.Capsule Staining for Virulence...
01:30Bacterial Phylum Actinobacteria
Coryneform bacteria are gram-positive, aerobic, nonmotile rods that exhibit irregular, club-shaped, or V-shaped arrangements. Their V-shape results from snapping division, where the inner cell wall layer forms the cross-wall, while the outer layer remains intact until it ruptures on one side, causing the daughter cells to bend away.The primary genera are Corynebacterium and Arthrobacter. Corynebacterium includes diverse species, ranging from saprophytes to pathogens like Corynebacterium...
01:25Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) presents a critical public health threat, arising from its capacity to resist β-lactam antibiotics due to acquisition of the mecA gene within the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec). This gene encodes penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a), which impairs binding efficacy of methicillin and other β-lactams. MRSA has evolved into distinct clonal lineages impacting humans and animals alike, reinforcing its significance within the One...
01:31Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens
The human immune system is a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to defend the body against bacterial infections. It consists of various immune cells, each playing a specific role in the defense mechanism.
Phagocytes
Phagocytes are the frontline soldiers of the immune system. They include neutrophils and macrophages. Neutrophils are the most abundant type of white blood cell and are quickly mobilized to the site of infection. Macrophages are larger cells that patrol...
Phagocytes
Phagocytes are the frontline soldiers of the immune system. They include neutrophils and macrophages. Neutrophils are the most abundant type of white blood cell and are quickly mobilized to the site of infection. Macrophages are larger cells that patrol...
01:20Determinants of Bacterial Pathogenicity and Virulence
Pathogenic bacteria employ a variety of strategies to establish infections, including the secretion of extracellular enzymes that act as potent virulence factors. These enzymes facilitate bacterial colonization of host tissues and help evade immune surveillance. By targeting structural components of host tissues and interfering with immune mechanisms, these enzymes play a pivotal role in disease progression.Extracellular Enzymes Facilitating Tissue Invasion: Several bacterial pathogens secrete...