IMMUNE STIMULATION OF LUNG BACTERICIDAL ACTIVITY - EVIDENCE FOR BOTH CELLULAR AND HUMORAL PARTICIPATION AFTER IMMUNIZATION WITH SERRATIA-MARCESCENS

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Abstract
Mice were immunized by aerosol or by a parenteral route with S. marcescens and subsequently challenged by aerosol with Staphylococcus aureus and S. marcescens. After a single aerosol immunization, intrapulmonary bactericidal activity was initially enhanced against both organisms. Repetitive aerosol immunization caused the same initial response; after anti-staphylococcal activity returned to normal, enhanced anti-Serratia activity was still demonstrable. Parenteral immunization was associated with increased in situ bactericidal activity against both organisms with more pronounced anti-Serratia activity. Intracellular bactericidal activity against S. aureus of lung phagocytes harvested from mice after aerosol immunization with Serratia paralleled the above findings. Aerosol immunization resulted in recruitment of polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Macrophage activation, leukocyte recruitment and local antibody are important contributing factors to heightened lung anti-bacterial activity after aerosol immunization with S. marcescens.