Immune Response to Moraxella Catarrhalis in Children with Otitis Media: Opsonophagocytosis with Antigen-Coated Latex Beads

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Abstract
Opsonic antibody activity against Moraxella catarrhalis was determined in sera from children with otitis media. The antibody was determined with a new assay utilizing outer membrane antigen-coated latex beads. Antigen-coated beads opsonized in heat-inactivated pooled human serum phagocytosed 47.5 ± 36.1 beads per 100 neutrophils compared to 15.6 ± 10.2 beads per 100 neutrophils opsonized in hypogammaglobulinemic serum (p < .025). Antigen-coated beads opsonized in homologous sera from 11 children with M catarrhalis otitis media demonstrated increased opsonic activity in convalescent sera (34.6 ± 27.1) compared to acute sera (15.5 ± 6.7;p< .05). These data suggest that infection with M catarrhalis is associated with the development of opsonic antibody.