Complement killing of Yersinia enterocolitica and retention of the bacteria by leucocyte removal filters.
We report studies on the complement sensitivity of four strains of Yersinia enterocolitica, serotypes O:3, O:9, O:5.27, and O:20, isolated from blood units involved in transfusion fatalities. Complement in fresh CPD plasma killed Y. enterocolitica within 4 h at 22 degrees C in 100% of the experiments. The bactericidal action was serotype and complement activation pathway dependent. Both classic and alternate pathways seemed to be active, but the latter to a lesser degree. When the classic pathway was blocked by chelation of Ca2+ no complete killing was obtained. Complement did not enhance or condition Yersinia for leucocyte filter retention. Direct removal of Yersinia by filtration was also related to serotype; all strains were reduced by filtration in heat-inactivated plasma, and all except serotype O:5.27 were reduced in Ca(2+)-chelated plasma. Our findings may explain why plasma products and platelet concentrates are rarely involved in Yersinia sepsis related to transfusion.
Department of Clinical Immunology, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden.
J
J
Gong
B D
BD
Rawal
C F
CF
Högman
G N
GN
Vyas
B
B
Nilsson
I
I
Gustafsson
D000327:Adsorption; D001770:Blood Bactericidal Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D002469:Cell Separation; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D005374:Filtration / Q000295:instrumentation; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D012703:Serotyping; D015008:Yersinia enterocolitica / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*
D003165:Complement System Proteins