Immunochemical Investigations of Cell Surface Antigens of Anaerobic Bacteria
Abstract
Among the anaerobic bacteria responsible for human infection, Baceteroides fragilis is the most important. This organism is particularly important in intra-abdominal septis or bacteremia. Several studies were conducted to determine whether any unique bacterial components of Bacteroides fragilis could account for its enhanced virulence. B. fragilis has chemically incomplete lipopolysaccharides as compared with the lipopolysaccharides (endotoxins) of aerobic bacteria, and the lipopolysaccharides of Bacteroides lack the biologic potency characteristic of endotoxin. This inactivity may account for the very infrequent occurrence of disseminated intravascular coagulation or purpura that can accompany sepsis due to these organisms. Furthermore, strains of B. fragilis have capsular polysaccharides. In an animal model of intra-abdominal sepsis, the encapsulated strains caused abscesses when given without other organisms, but abscess formation from unencapsulated strains of Bacteroids generally required the administration of a synergistic aerobe. The abscesses caused by encapsulated strains were shown to be directly attributable to the capsular polysaccharide, which is an important virulence factor of this organism. Experimental animals infected with B. fragilis develop antibodies ot the capsular polysaccharide, and these antibodies can be detected in a radioactive antigen-binding assay.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 15, 1984
- Accession Number
- ADA161878
Entities
People
- Dennis L Kasper
Organizations
- Harvard Medical School