Antibody response to 'O' antigens of various gram negative organisms isolated from patients with malignant diseases

ABSTRACT

A total of 349 passive haemagglutination tests were carried out using serum samples from ancer patients against various 'O' antigens prepared from their own body isolates. The n tigens employed were those of eleven different gram negative bacterial species. 94.6% serum samples gave positive tests. Antibody titres obtained ranged from zero to as high as 15120, with median titre of 180. In contrast, fourteen passive haemagglutination tests were set up using serum samples from healthy individuals against antigens of their own body isolates of which only 50.0% were found to be positive, antibody titres ranging from zero to a low maximum of 140, with a median being zero. To test serum samples of healthy individuals against 'O' antigens of patients body isolates, 8 passive haemagglutination tests were set up. Only 21.3% were found to be positive, titres a aging from zero to 140, with a median titre o f zero. The results reveal that antibody titre can be .red not only as an index for establishing the immune status of the host but also for discriminating the infecting bacterial species from the colonizing species