Antibody-mediated and delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions to Brucella skin test antigens in guinea pigs.
Cutaneous hypersensitivity responses to brucella antigens of different composition were studied in guinea pigs sensitized by infection with smooth brucella or immunization with killed rough brucella in adjuvant. These animals had  circulating antibodies to smooth lipopolysaccharide or protein antigens, respectively. Intradermal skin tests, active cutaneous anaphylaxis, passive cutaneous anaphylaxis, and immunodiffusion tests were performed. Delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions uncomplicated by accompanying antibody-mediated reactions were seen only in infected guinea pigs with protein antigen that was entirely free of lipopolysaccharide. In the adjuvant-immunized animals, the protein antigen evoked overlapping antibody-mediated and delayed-type reactions. Lipopolysaccharide and polysaccharide preparations contained varying amounts of protein components. In infected animals, reactions of these antigens were clearly antibody mediated, but participation of delayed-type hypersensitivity could not be excluded. In adjuvant-immunized animals, the antibody-mediated reaction to the lipopolysaccharide preparation was caused by its protein component.
D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D002002:Brucella / Q000276:immunology*; D002003:Brucella abortus / Q000276:immunology; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000276:immunology*; D007106:Immune Sera; D007114:Immunization; D005779:Immunodiffusion; D007122:Immunoelectrophoresis; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D010323:Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; D011817:Rabbits / Q000276:immunology; D012882:Skin Tests; D015007:Yersinia / Q000276:immunology
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D007106:Immune Sera; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial