Immunity to Chlamydial Infections of the Eye

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Abstract
Different types of immunologic stimuli were given to two separate groups of guinea pigs. One group received active conjunctival infection with live guinea pig inclusion conjunctivitis (gp-ic) organisms, another, formalin-killed gp-ic organisms intraperitoneally. Neutralizing complement-dependent serum antibodies were produced by both stimuli. However, immunity to conjunctival infection rechallenge developed only in those guinea pigs originally infected conjunctivally with live organisms. The latter animals were also the only ones to develop specific gp-ic secretory IgA antibodies in eye secretions. These studies cast doubt on the importance of specific serum antibodies in resistance to gp-ic conjunctival infection. The role of specific gp-ic secretory IgA antibodies as well as of cellular immunity in resistance to gp-ic infection is discussed.

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