Abstract
Strains of four streptococcal types, 33, 41, 43, 52, and a nontypable strain, Ross, cross-reacted in precipitin and bactericidal tests. The homologous reactions, which determined the type, afforded the major protection and developed promptly and regularly in the serum of rabbits during immunization. The associated cross-reactions, on the other hand, appeared in the serum of certain rabbits only, were often not as strong as the associated homologous reactions, and required for their presence a longer period of immunization than the homologous reactions. Agar gel analysis of the homologous precipitin reactions revealed, as would be expected, reactions of serological identity, while those cross-reactions which were strong enough to test in this way formed bands of precipitate which joined with spur formation on the side of the homologous reaction. These experiments and others referred to in the text suggest that cross-protection, as demonstrated in bactericidal tests, is sufficiently widespread to be a factor in streptococcal immunity, if a corresponding protection occurs in vivo. Thus, streptococcal infection with one of the cross-reacting strains might confer, in addition to strong homologous protection, a certain amount of cross-protection.
Full Text
The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (488.7 KB).
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Fox E. N., Wittner M. K. Antigenicity of the M proteins of group A hemolytic streptococci. IV. Cross-reactivity between serotypes. J Immunol. 1968 Jan;100(1):39–45. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- LANCEFIELD R. C. Differentiation of group A streptococci with a common R antigen into three serological types, with special reference to the bactericidal test. J Exp Med. 1957 Oct 1;106(4):525–544. doi: 10.1084/jem.106.4.525. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- LANCEFIELD R. C. Occurrence of R antigen specific for Group A type 3 streptococci. J Exp Med. 1958 Sep 1;108(3):329–341. doi: 10.1084/jem.108.3.329. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- LANCEFIELD R. C., PERLMANN G. E. Preparation and properties of a protein (R antigen) occurring in streptococci of group A, type 28 and in certain streptococci of other serological groups. J Exp Med. 1952 Jul;96(1):83–97. doi: 10.1084/jem.96.1.83. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Lancefield R. C. THE ANTIGENIC COMPLEX OF STREPTOCOCCUS HAEMOLYTICUS : I. DEMONSTRATION OF A TYPE-SPECIFIC SUBSTANCE IN EXTRACTS OF STREPTOCOCCUS HAEMOLYTICUS. J Exp Med. 1928 Jan 1;47(1):91–103. doi: 10.1084/jem.47.1.91. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- MAXTED W. R. The indirect bactericidal test as a means of identifying antibody to the M antigen of Streptococcus pyogenes. Br J Exp Pathol. 1956 Aug;37(4):415–422. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- McCARTY M. The occurrence of polyglycerophosphate as an antigenic component of various gram-positive bacterial species. J Exp Med. 1959 Apr 1;109(4):361–378. doi: 10.1084/jem.109.4.361. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- STOLLERMAN G. H., EKSTEDT R. Long chain formation by strains of group A streptococci in the presence of homologous antiserum: a type-specific reaction. J Exp Med. 1957 Sep 1;106(3):345–356. doi: 10.1084/jem.106.3.345. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Swift H. F., Wilson A. T., Lancefield R. C. TYPING GROUP A HEMOLYTIC STREPTOCOCCI BY M PRECIPITIN REACTIONS IN CAPILLARY PIPETTES. J Exp Med. 1943 Aug 1;78(2):127–133. doi: 10.1084/jem.78.2.127. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Top F. H., Jr, Wannamaker L. W., Maxted W. R., Anthony B. F. M antigens among group A streptococci isolated from skin lesions. J Exp Med. 1967 Oct 1;126(4):667–685. doi: 10.1084/jem.126.4.667. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- WILEY G. G., WILSON A. T. The occurrence of two M antigens in certain group A streptococci related to type 14. J Exp Med. 1961 Feb 1;113:451–465. doi: 10.1084/jem.113.2.451. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- WILSON A. T., WILEY G. G. THE CELLULAR ANTIGENS OF GROUP A STREPTOCOCCI; IMMUNOELECTROPHORETIC STUDIES OF THE C, M, T, PGP, E4, F, AND E ANTIGENS OF SEROTYPE 17 STREPTOCOCCI. J Exp Med. 1963 Oct 1;118:527–556. doi: 10.1084/jem.118.4.527. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]