[Several regularities of the interrelation of blood leukocytes and microbes in the infectious process]

The rate of absorption by polymorphonuclear leukocytes of different strains of staphylococci present in a homogeneous mixture was studied. The cells of one of the strains were radiolabeled and this made it possible to differentiate them from the cells of another strain by means of electron microscopic autoradiography. Different rates of absorption of cocci belonging to different strains by leukocytes of normal subjects and by those from patients with sepsis resulting from burn or wound were observed. The seizing capacity of leukocytes of such patients in relation to the autostrains of S. aureus and epidermal staphylococcus cultivated from the blood did not differ significantly from normal in numerous tests. The electron-autoradiographic examinations of the synthesis of nucleic acids in cultures of S. aureus and epidermal staphylococcus revealed different functional status of individual cells.