Neutrophil-Mediated Killing, Opsonization, and Serum-Mediated Killing of Escherichia coli K1 by Neonatal Rats
- 1 January 1988
- journal article
- research article
- Published by S. Karger AG in Neonatology
- Vol. 53 (3) , 156-162
- https://doi.org/10.1159/000242777
Abstract
Neonates are particularly susceptible to infection with Escherichia coli K1. To investigate the mechanisms which lead to this susceptibility, we examined: (a) the bactericidal activity of neutrophils; (b) opsonization, and (c) the bactericidal activity of serum in developing rats. Neutrophils from adult rats killed E. coli K1 more efficiently than did neutrophils from young animals. Opsonization of E. coli K1 by serum of prematurely delivered rats was poor. Serum from prematurely delivered and term rats promoted growth of E. coli K1, while serum from adult rats killed > 95% of the organisms within 90 min. However, the mixture of heat-inactivated serum from adult rats plus serum from prematurely delivered rats killed E. coli K1.Keywords
This publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit:
- Neisseria meningitidis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae Bacteremia Associated with C6, C7, or C8 DeficiencyAnnals of Internal Medicine, 1979