Abstract
On the 3rd day after birth germfree guinea pigs were contaminated by one of the following representatives of the normal intestinal microflora:Bacillus mesentericus,Bacillus subtilis,Staphylococous albus, andStreptococcus faecalis. The levels of antibodies against the microorganisms used for monocontamination and also againstEscherichia coli 055, which is pathogenic for guinea pigs, and the serum complement levels were studied in the animals at the age of 2 weeks. Contamination of the guinea pigs byB. mesentericus andB. subtilis did not significantly change the antibody levels against these microorganisms, whereasS. albus andS. faecalis appreciably stimulated antibody formation. Similar results were obtained with respect toE. coli 055. The complement level was significantly increased by the spore-bearing aerobes and byS. albus.
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Andreev, V.N., Podoprigora, G.I. Effect of contamination of germfree guinea pigs by individual members of the intestinal microflora on antibody and complement levels. Bull Exp Biol Med 82, 1377–1379 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00799482
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00799482