Complement-mediated early clearance of Haemophilus influenzae type b from blood is independent of serum lytic activity.
The role of complement-mediated serum lytic activity in the clearance of encapsulated Haemophilus influenzae type b was studied by comparing clearance of bacteria from blood in normal mice with that in congeneic C5-deficient animals and mice depleted of complement by using cobra-venom factor. The clearance of organisms from blood by C5-deficient and C5-sufficient normal animals was similar. C3 depletion and the inability to fix C3 to the surface of bacteria were, however, associated with impaired clearance of organisms during the first 24 h after intravenous bacterial challenge. These studies suggest that complement-mediated opsonization rather than bacteriolysis is important in determining early clearance of H. influenzae type b from the bloodstream.
Noel
G J
GJ
Department of Pediatrics, New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, New York 10021.
Katz
S
S
Edelson
P J
PJ
D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D001770:Blood Bactericidal Activity; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000276:immunology; D003182:Complement C5 / Q000172:deficiency / Q000276:immunology; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D004546:Elapid Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009895:Opsonin Proteins / Q000276:immunology
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D003176:Complement C3; D003182:Complement C5; D004546:Elapid Venoms; D009895:Opsonin Proteins; C016310:cobra venom factor; D003165:Complement System Proteins