title: Effect of extracellular slime substance from Staphylococcus epidermidis on the human cellular immune response.
abstract: Staphylococcus epidermidis infection of plastic catheters is often associated with heavy deposits of slime. To test whether this slime affects the human cellular immune response, its effect on the lympho-proliferative response of mononuclear cells to polyclonal stimulators was measured. Slime drastically reduces this response. Its inhibitory action was not immediate but took place over a few days and resulted in destruction of affected cells. The effect is dose related. This inhibition of cellular response may contribute to S epidermidis infection of implanted prostheses.
mesh_terms: D000268:Adhesiveness; D002404:Catheterization; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D010969:Plastics; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D010969:Plastics