STUDIES ON THE FLEXNER GROUP OF DYSENTERY BACILLI

Abstract

Comparative tests of the toxicity of killed dysentery bacilli and the somatic antigen derived from them indicate that the antigen is responsible for most of the toxicity of these micro-organisms. The serol. behavior of the antigens was in all respects similar to that of the bacilli from which it was derived. The polysaccharide portion of the antigenic complex, in turn, is a hapten and accounts for the serol. properties of the somatic antigen.