IMMUNOLOGICAL REACTIONS BETWEEN AGAR-AGAR AND SOME BACTERIAL ANTISERA

Abstract

As found by Sordelli and Mayer, agar adsorbed on bacteria produces agar-reacting antibodies in animals injected with these organisms. False cross-agglutinations and precipitin reactions can be produced in sera containing agar-reacting antibodies, by organisms grown on agar. Zozaya''s previous publication in this field requires partial revision on this account. There is suggestive im-munological evidence of chemical similarity between the specifically reactive groups of agar, and the C substance of the pneumococcus.