A Study of Antibodies and Delayed-Type Skin Reactions to Certain Antigens of Group A Streptococcus in Experimental Animals,

Abstract : It is known that such illnesses as rheumatism, scarlet fever, chronic tonsillitis and erysipelas can result from manifested delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) to the antigens of streptococcus. This is confirmed by the delayed-type skin reactions developing in response to the intradermal injection of the following preparations: M-substance, streptokinase, and thermostable fraction obtained from the group A streptococcus. For these diseases as for a number of other infections (tuberculosis, brucellosis and others) the preservation, sometimes for a number of years, of DTH in the absence of skin reactions of the delayed type is characteristic. The aim of this work was to clarify the following problem: does the delayed-type hypersensitivity develop to the antigens of such preparations of streptococcus as the thermostable fraction, M-substance, proteinase, and erythrogenic toxin during the test on animals sensitized with a culture of streptococcus; how long does this state last; and to what types of immunoglobulins do the antibodies belong.