STUDIES ON IMMUNOLOGICAL RELATIONSHIPS AMONG THE PNEUMOCOCCI

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Abstract
The paper reports evidence of an immunological relationship between one variety of S. cerevisiae and Type II D. pneumoniae. The most convincing data consisted of reactions of Type II bacteria with potent antiyeast serum which agglutinated and protected mice against these pneumococci as well as the average antiserum obtained by immunization of rabbits with Type II bacteria. The anti-yeast serum is entirely devoid of antibodies reactive with Type I or III pneumococci. Results of absorption tests with both antiyeast (rabbit) serum and anti-Type II (horse) serum were the same as those usually obtained in analogous experiments with immuno-lpgically related, but not identical, kinds of bacteria. The immunological relationship of yeast and Type II pneumococcus is apparently based upon S-anti-S reactions, an example of heterogenetic specificity of particular interest because of the wide genetic separation of the organisms. Data on the individual irregularity in yeast-agglutinating capacity of serum from non-immunized or "normal" rabbits are presented as experimental facts.

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