[Staphylococcal infection in guinea pigs with enhanced delayed hypersensitivity induced by Staphylococcus aureus...

A comparative study was made of the relationship between the DHS phenomenon and certain staphylococcal antigens and the intensity of infectious process in sublethal infection of guinea-pigs by Staphylococcus aureus. The protective effect, which was manifested by reduced amounts of staphylococcal colonies in spleen tissues and elevated level of lymphocytes, and neutrophil activation, correlated with DHS induced by surface antigens under study (cell wall, peptidoglycan, protein A). Incomplete combination or certain antigens induced DHS but did not increase the resistance to the following infection.