Naturally Occurring Anti‐Kell Stimulated by E. Coli Enterocolitis in a 20‐Day‐Old Child

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Abstract
Anti-A and anti-K were found in the serum of a 20 day old child who was not transfused but who was acutely ill with Escherichia coli enterocolitis. Both antibodies are Ig[immunoglobulin]M proteins. The mother''s serum does not contain either antibody, and the anti-A and anti-K in the infant''s serum are not of maternal origin. Both parents and the child are of the Kell phenotype K-k+. Stool cultures made from the child yielded E. coli O 125:B15, an uncommon B-variant pathogenic coliform. Cell-free preparations made from broth cultures of this organism have strong specific inhibitory activity against IgM anti-A and anti-K, and both antigens were identified on the bacterial cells. At age 3 mo. the child had made a clinical recovery, stool cultures showed no pathogenic coliforms, and anti-A and anti-K were no longer detectable in her serum. Absorption of metabolites with A-like and K-like activity produced by a pathogenic coliform in the intestinal tract were responsible for the appearance of apparent naturally occurring anti-A and anti-K in the child''s serum.