RESISTANCE TO THE ACTION OF THE ENDOTOXINS OF ENTERIC BACILLI IN MAN 1

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Abstract
Following repeated intraven. injns. of the somatic antigens prepd. from the typhoid bacillus, paratyphoid B bacillus, and the Shiga dysentery bacillus in man, tolerance develops to the toxic effects of these antigens as indicated by the failure of the antigens subsequently to produce the characteristic febrile response and constitutional symptoms. Tolerance developing following the admn. of any one of these 3 antigens confers resistance against all 3. This resistant state had disappeared in from 4 to 5 weeks when the subjects were again tested by injns. of these antigens. Tolerance of these somatic antigens does not appear to be related to the presence of circulating antibody for the toxic antigen as measured by the presence of "O" agglutinins. The possible role of this phenomenon in human disease produced by these enteric bacilli is discussed.