A New Method for the Production of Non-Specific Capsular Swelling of the Pneumococcus

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Abstract
Pneumo-coccal polysaccharides were found to combine with various proteins at pH 4 to form insoluble aggregates. This reaction was easily reversible by readjusting the pH to 7. Nonspecific capsular swelling was produced at pH 4 in a salt-free soln. of albumin, hemoglobin and several crystalline enzymes. Reversal of the quellung reaction was accomplished by readjusting the pH to 7 or by adding ionized salt to the mixture of pneumococci and protein. Capsular swelling was produced in 8 pneumococcal types, but did not occur with Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli or Streptococcus hemolyticus.