Antiphagocytic activity of Staphylococcus aureus antigens

Abstract

Systematic fractionation of a capsulated strain of Staphylococcus aureus has led to the isolation of two antigens which would specifically absorb opsonizing antibody from immune rabbit serum. One of these antigens was shown to be serologically identical to teichoic acid. Teichoic acid is considered to be an important antigen for mediating phagocytosis and killing of staphylococci, but other antigens may also play a role in immunity depending on the strain involved, the route of infection, and possible deleterious effects of hypersensitivity reactions.