Studies of Rickettsia mooseri Cell Walls

摘要

Immunologic studies were performed in mice, guinea pigs and man with cell wall and cytoplasmic fractions of Rickettsia mooseri obtained by mechanical disruption. On a weight basis, cell walls were more effective antigens than either whole rickettsiae or cytoplasmic fraction in the following tests: typhus group complement-fixation and hemagglutination tests and stimulation of antitoxic immunity in mice and anti-infectious immunity in guinea pigs. Cell walls also elicited a delayed type skin reaction in hypersensitive human subjects and a toxic skin reaction in nonsensitive subjects. It was concluded that the antigens involved in these tests were located in or on the cell wall.