Neutralizing Antibody to 'Pseudomonas aeruginosa' Exotoxin in Human Sera: Evidence for in Vivo Toxin Production During Infections.

摘要

Antibody to Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin was detected in human sera by using a cytotoxicity-neutralization assay. Serum antitoxin was present in high titer in all 14 patients who recovered from serious pseudomonas infections. In contrast, serum antitoxin was present in lower titer in four of seven patients with fatal pseudomonas infections, in 3 of 7 patients with non-pseudomonas infections, and in 6 of 14 normal control subjects. Fourfold or greater serum antitoxin rises were demonstrated in two survivors of acute infections, and toxin-neutralizing activity was associated with the immunoglobulin G fraction of human sera. Immunization of rabbits with purified exotoxin also induced high antitoxin titers.