THE RELATIONSHIP OF ACQUIRED RESISTANCE, ALLERGY, ANTIBODIES AND TISSUE REACTIVITIES TO THE COMPONENTS OF THE TUBERCLE BACILLUS

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Abstract
This study attempts to relate the various immunological aspects of tuberculosis to components of the bacillary cell. For this purpose the phosphatide, the wax, the protein, and the polysaccharide received especial attention; in addition, bacterial cells deprived of certain of these elements were also employed. As the result of the immunization of animals with these various materials, the application of cutaneous tests, the study of serological responses, and finally a survey of the ability of the variously treated animals to resist virulent bacteria, certain conclusions were reached. No one of the single components employed, alone or in combination, can be related to the induction of acquired immunity. No one of the antibody responses which could be demonstrated was related to resistance. The delayed type of tuberculin allergy could be reproduced in guinea pigs by injection of tuberculo-protein antigen along with the bacillary wax. Animals so sensitized showed no indication of having acquired resistance to disease. It is concluded from this that immunity and allergy in tuberculosis cannot be aspects of the same host response, since the latter is brought about by elements of the bacterium which are not concerned with the former.

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