Studies on Antibody Response and Tolerance to E. coli K Antigens in Immunized Rabbits and in Children with Urinary Tract Infection

Abstract

The K antibody response was studied in immunized rabbits and in children with urinary tract infection. Hyperimmunization of rabbits with K antigen-containing bacteria gave a relatively marked and regular antibody response with both β-mercaptoethanol sensitive and resistant antibodies. Purified K antigen only in a few animals gave very low K antibody titres. Tolerance induction in rabbits was possible using purified K antigen. In patients, K antibodies were very seldom demonstrated. Five occasions of pyelonephritis out of 9 in 8 patients with acute pyelonephritis caused by E. coli O6:K2a,2c or O6:K13 and only 2 patients out of 17 having K1-containing strains gave an antibody response to the K antigen although they all formed antibodies to the·antigen of the infecting bacteria. No K antibodies were found in patients with cystitis.