Hypersensitivity to bacteria in eczema. II. Titre and immunoglobulin class of antibodies to staphylococci and micrococci.
The amounts of agglutinating antibody to staphylococcal and micrococcal phenol-extracted (probably teichoic acids) and protein antigens, prepared from Baird Parker types S1, SIV and M1, were no greater in eczematous than in control persons. Most antibody to phenol-extracted to phenol-extracted antigens was IgM which frequently activated complement to lyse red cells which had adsorbed the bacterial antigen. IgG antibody against phenol-extracted staphylococcal antigen (Staph. aureus, Baird Parker Type S1) was shown to be specific antibody combining by the F(ab)2 portion of the molecule. The phenol-extracts did not contain staphylococcal Protein A that binds to the Fc portion of IgG. Furthermore, the presence of Protein A in the protein or total antigen extracts did not appear to modify the results of the tanned cell agglutination test. The occurrence of immediate or of 4 h, Arthus-like skin test responses to staphylococcal or micrococcal antigens was unrelated to the agglutinin or complement-lysis titre of the relevant antibody.
D000372:Agglutination Tests; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D003298:Coombs Test; D004485:Eczema / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments / Q000032:analysis; D007141:Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments / Q000032:analysis; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008837:Micrococcus / Q000276:immunology*; D012882:Skin Tests; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000276:immunology*
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments; D007141:Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M