PHAGOCYTOSIS OF BACTERIA IN THE ABSENCE OF ANTIBODY AND THE EFFECT OF PHYSICAL SURFACE

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Abstract
Employing quantitative techniques of measurement, earlier experiments had demonstrated that phagocytosis of formalin-killed Escherichia coli and Brucella abortus by guinea pig and dog blood leukocytes could be promoted by previous contact of the bacteria with filter paper or with para-hydroxybenzoic acid. Phagocytosis of Pneumococcus Type IV by guinea pig and rat blood leukocytes was also promoted by para-hydroxybenzoic acid. When these experiments were extended to the Type I A5 Pneumococcus used by Wood et al in their observations of surface phagocytosis, previous contact of the bacteria with either filter paper or with para-hydroxybenzoic acid did not increase the phagocytosis of this strain by leukocytes of rat or guinea pig blood over saline-treated controls. Results indicated that stimulation was a chemical rather than physical effect, when it occurred. The experiments of Wood et al were repeated under controlled conditions, with careful adjustment of pneumococci and leukocyte numbers, and quantitative measurement of phagocytosis. The presence of a filter paper surface did not increase the phagocytosis of the Type IA5 strain of Pneumococcus by either rat exudate leukocytes or rat blood leukocytes. An additional significant finding was that blood leukocytes had far greater phagocytic capacity than had exudate leukocytes, when optimal conditions for phagocytosis were established.