Adsorption of 2isoagglutinogen-like Substances of Infectious Agents on Human Erythrocytes.

Abstract

Partially purified polysaccharides were isolated from dry worm material from adult Ascaris lumbricoides (var. suum); the larval forms of Trichinella spiralis and adult Taenia saginata adsorbed onto human erythrocytes of groups O and B, when these were incubated at 37[degree]C or stored at 6[degree]C in saline suspensions of the polysaccha-ride. The treated erythrocytes were added to human serums of groups O and B and the a 2 isoagglutinin titers were reduced to zero. No significant reduction of the a 2 isoagglutinin titer was observed when control erythrocytes were added to the serums. The tLter of the a 1 was slightly reduced and that of the beta-isoagglutinins was unaffected. The fact that the erythrocytes treated with the polysaccharides inhibited the a 2 agglutinins is used as evidence to show that the polysaccharides adsorbed onto the red cells. Adsorption of polysaccharides with A2 isoagglutinogen-like properties, onto erythrocytes of human groups O and B gives the cell characteristics pertaining to a different group, i.e., the A2 group. The possibility of such phenomenon occurring during actual infection, and the relationship which it may have with the development of autohemagglutinins is mentioned.