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

Abstract

Summary

1. Partially purified polysaccharides 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°C or stored at 6°C in saline suspensions of the polysaccharide. 2. The treated erythrocytes were added to human serums of groups O and B and the α₂ isoagglutinin titers were reduced to zero. No significant reduction of the α₂ isoagglutinin titer was observed when control erythrocytes were added to the serums. 3. The titers of the α₁ was slightly reduced and that of the β isoagglutinins was unaffected. 4. The fact that the erythrocytes treated with the polysaccharides inhibited the α₂ agglutinins is used as evidence to show that the polysaccharides adsorbed onto the red cells. 5. Adsorption of polysaccharides with α₂ isoagglutinogen-like properties, onto erythrocytes of human groups O and B gives the cell characteristics pertaining to a different group, i.e., the α₂ group. The possibility of such phenomenon occurring during actual infection, and the relationship which it may have with the development of auto-hemagglutinins is mentioned.