Erythrocyte-Modifying Capacity of Shigella dysenteriae (SHIGA) Antigen and Its Polysaccharide Component.

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Abstract
S. dysenteriae (Shiga) antigen complex and its polysaccharide fraction modified red blood cells of sheep, man, rabbit, guinea pig for subsequent specific agglutination by homologous bacterial antibodies obtained from rabbit and horse. The antigens were somewhat more effective after being heated at 100[degree]C for one hour. In the presence of guinea pig complement and homologous bacterial (rabbit) antiserum lysis occurred of modified sheep red blood cells but not of human erythrocytes; lysis of modified sheep -and human red blood cells was not effected by an equine antiserum. The polysaccharide fraction could be measured as a specific inhibitor of hemagglutination in amts. as small as .006 ug. and proved to be twice as effective as the antigen complex. In contrast, the whole antigen was somewhat more active in modifying red blood cells than the polysaccharide component. Of 60 random human sera 18 contained S. dysenteriae hemagglutinins, which were specifically absorbed by either the whole antigen or its polysaccharide fraction.