Synergism between Ecologic and Immunologic Control Mechanisms of Intestinal Flora

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Abstract
A hypothesis that postulates that local antibacterial immunity may act synergistically with bacterial antagonism in controlling bacterial populations in the intestine was studied. In germ-free mice monoassociated with Vibrio cholerae, bacterial counts were in the order of 109–1010 bacteria per cecum. If mice had been vaccinated with V. Cholerae by either oral or parenteral routes, the vibrio counts were lowered by factors of only 1.55–2.82. In germ-free mice in which antagonistic bacteria had been implanted before challenge with vibrios, viable counts were about 105–108 vibrios per cecum. If these mice were vaccinated, the vibrio counts were lowered by factors of 4.72–61.1. Local antibacterial immunity was therefore considerably more effective when it operated in conjunction with bacterial antagonism. The mechanism of action of intestinal antibacterial immunity was considered in relation to prophylactic vaccination and to the control of autochthonous flora.

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