Pathogenesis of diphtheria carrier state from the immunological point of view.
Results of a comparative investigation of diphtheria antitoxin and type-specific antibacterial antibodes in 264 carriers of diphtherial bacteria, 41 diphtheria patients and 263 non-infected subjects are presented. A high level of antitoxin did not prevent the development of toxigenic-strain carrier state. A basically similar immunological antibacterial response was observed in patients with manifest forms of diphtheria and in carriers of toxigenic strains; such a response could not as yet be detected in carriers of non-toxigenic strains. It has been suggested that the infectious process in the toxigenic-strain carrier state is due to factors of the virulence responsible for infectivity and invasiveness of the diphtherial microbe. The toxin plays no pathogenic role in carrier state.
D000293:Adolescent; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D002353:Carrier State / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003353:Corynebacterium diphtheriae / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D004165:Diphtheria / Q000276:immunology*; D004166:Diphtheria Antitoxin / Q000276:immunology*; D004167:Diphtheria Toxin / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D004166:Diphtheria Antitoxin; D004167:Diphtheria Toxin