Occurrence of phlyctenules after immunization with ribitol teichoic acid of Staphylococcus aureus.
We immunized rabbits to ribitol teichoic acid (RTA), a component of the cell wall of Staphylococcus aureus, by intravenous injections of RTA-sensitized sheep RBCs. Hemagglutination titers to RTA and corneal phlyctenules developed in these rabbits after topical challenge with viable S aureus, but did not develop in control rabbits immunized with unsensitized sheep RBCs. These results suggest that hypersensitivity to RTA, the major antigenic determinant of S aureus, plays a role in the development of corneal phlyctenules.
D000818:Animals; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000276:immunology; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005620:Freund's Adjuvant; D006386:Hemagglutination Tests; D007114:Immunization; D011817:Rabbits / Q000276:immunology; D012882:Skin Tests; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000276:immunology*; D013682:Teichoic Acids / Q000276:immunology*
D013682:Teichoic Acids; D005620:Freund's Adjuvant