Abstract

The development and description of a quantitative method of evaluating streptococcal antibodies by inhibition of fluorescent staining is reported. Suspensions of Streptococcus pyogenes group A, treated with methyl alcohol to reduce auto-fluorescence, were used as antigen. The degree of inhibition of uptake of fluorescent labeled antibody produced by the presence of antibodies in the immune test sera was measured after elution of the labeled antibody. Comparisons were made with controls using normal sera containing no inhibiting antibodies. A method of reporting the results in terms of titer is described.

Streptococcal antibodies were demonstrated quantitatively by this inhibition test in sera from rabbits immunized with Streptococcus pyogenes group A, but not in sera from rabbits immunized with Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella pullorum.

Streptococcal antibodies were shown to be present in human sera from patients with elevated antistreptolysin 0 titers due to streptococcal infections, but antibodies were not present in serum from a patient with an elevated antistreptolysin 0 due to non-streptococcal liver damage. These findings suggest that the test may be an aid in diagnosing streptococcal infections, particularly, in conditions where the antistreptolysin 0 titer may be elevated due to non-specific causes.

LLU Discipline

Microbiology

Department

Microbiology

School

Graduate Studies

First Advisor

Charles E. Winter

Second Advisor

Jack D. Zwemer

Third Advisor

Robert L. Nutter

Fourth Advisor

U. D. Register

Fifth Advisor

Kenneth A. Arendt

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Degree Level

M.S.

Year Degree Awarded

1962

Date (Title Page)

6-1962

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Streptococcus; Antibodies

Type

Thesis

Page Count

vii; 51

Digital Format

PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

Download

Share

COinS