title: [Syphilis. Current physiobiological data. I. The bacteriological problem].
abstract: For lack of being able to grow Treponema pallidum, the only method which allows us to study the biology of this germ and the physiopathology of this infection lies in researches in experimental syphilis. After pointing out the different aspects of Treponema pallidum, either with light microscopy or electron microscopy, the authors review the different kinds of reproduction suggested by syphiligraphs, the recent trials to cultivate the treponema, and the processes of elimination. Then, they examine the biological properties and the antigenic structure of T.p. as it has been established by comparison with cultivable spirochetes. To end with, the authors show that both the TPI test and the FTA test are two very specific reactions; these tests mean nothing but the fact that the patient has been in contact with the antigens of Treponema pallidum and the quantitative tests cannot be considered as expressing the infectious potential capacity.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D002455:Cell Division; D006224:Cricetinae; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D051379:Mice; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010587:Phagocytosis; D011817:Rabbits; D012098:Reproduction; D013587:Syphilis / Q000382:microbiology*; D014210:Treponema pallidum / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial
vernacular_title: La syphilis. Actualités physio-biologiques. I. Le problème bactériologique.