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On the Presence of Heterophile (Forssman's) Antigen in Bacteria of the Paratyphoid-Dysentery Group

Department of Bacteriology and Experimental Pathology, Stanford University, California

Abstract

1. Immunization of rabbits with certain strains of B. dysenteriae Shiga or B. paratyphosus B was followed with great regularity by the appearance in the serum of hemolysins active for sheep and goat red corpuscles, but inactive for those of the human or rabbit. No formation of hemolysins was noted by immunizing guinea pigs with the same cultures.

2. Hemolytic Shiga and paratyphoid B sera fixed complement specifically in the presence of true Forssman antigen.

3. The heterophile antibodies in Shiga and paratyphoid B sera were completely and specifically absorbed by contact with their homologous bacterial antigens as well as by absorption with true Forssman antigen.

4. Intravenous injection of Shiga and paratyphoid B sera into guinea pigs was only occasionally followed by a characteristic systemic reaction due to primary antiserum toxicity.

5. Intracutaneous injection of Shiga and paratyphoid B sera into white guinea pigs and dogs induced frequently a well defined local, inflammatory reaction of the allergic type, particularly in the case of the latter sera.

6. Complement fixation between true Forssman antisera and Shiga or paratyphoid B bacilli as the respective antigens was not readily demonstrable. The reactions were only faint and occurred irregularly.

7. Absorption of true Forssman antisera by Shiga or paratyphoid B bacilli caused no definite loss of heterophile hemolysins in such sera.

8. No evidence was found for the presence of heterophile antigen in strains of B. paradysenteriae (Flexner), B. paratyphosus A and B. enteritidis (Gaertner).