Effect of penicillin on the humoral and cellular immune response following group A streptococcal pharyngitis

The effect of oral and parenteral penicillin on the development of cellular and humoral immune responses in chimpanzees infected with group A streptococcal M-types 1, 5 and 12 was investigated. The interrelationship between type-specific antibody response and enhancement of phagocytic competence of polymorphonuclear neutrophils was documented. Penicillin depressed or suppressed type-specific antibody response depending on the mode and dose of administration, probably because of its effect on the streptococci responsible for antibody stimulation. Penicillin was not demonstrated to have a direct effect on phagocytic ability in vitro. Therefore the primary effect of antibiotic therapy is the indirect relationship to suppression or inhibition of type-specific antibody response to M-protein which results in a diminution of phagocytic competence.