Complement, Serum Bactericidal Activity, and Disseminated Gram-Negative Infection
Authors: John P. Leddy, Roy T. Steigbigel
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1979)

Editorial Notes1 June 1979Complement, Serum Bactericidal Activity, and Disseminated Gram-Negative InfectionJOHN P. LEDDY, M.D., ROY T. STEIGBIGEL, M.D.JOHN P. LEDDY, M.D.Search for more papers by this author, ROY T. STEIGBIGEL, M.D.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-90-6-984 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptSince the late 19th century it has been known that mammalian sera, through the collaboration of specific antibody and complement, have the capacity to kill many types of gram-negative bacteria in the absence of phagocytic cells. Subsequent studies of this phenomenon have made it clear that successful killing of such bacteria by human serum requires an intact complement cascade, including [a] the operation of the "early-acting" complement components concerned with activation via the classical or alternative pathways and [b] the presence of the "late-acting" complement components, C5-C9, which collectively constitute the "membrane attack mechanism" (1-3).Despite these and other advances...References1. JOHNSTONSTROUD RR: Complement and host defense against infection. J Pediatr 90:169-179, 1977 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. INOUEYONEMASUTAKAMIZAWAAMANO KKAT: [Studies on the immune bacteriolysis. XIV. Requirement of all nine components of complement for immune bacteriolysis.] (Jap.) Biken J 11:203-206, 1968 MedlineGoogle Scholar3. GOLDMANRUDDYAUSTENFEINGOLD JSKD: The serum bactericidal reaction. III. Antibody and complement requirements for killing a rough Escherichia coli. J Immunol 102:1379-1387, 1969 MedlineGoogle Scholar4. DAVISIANNETTAWEDGWOOD SAR: Bactericidal reactions of serum, in Biological Activities of Complement: 5th International Symposium of the Canadian Society for Immunology, edited by INGRAM DG. New York, S. Karger, 1972, pp. 43-55 Google Scholar5. ROANTREERANTZ RL: A study of the relationship of the normal bactericidal activity of human serum to bacterial infection. J Clin Invest 39:72-81, 1960 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. VOSTIRANDALL KE: Sensitivity of serologically classified strains of Escherichia coli of human origin to the serum bactericidal system. Am J Med Sci 259:114-119, 1970 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar7. LEDDYFRANKGAITHERBAUMKLEMPERER JMTJM: Hereditary deficiency of the sixth component of complement in man. I. Immunochemical, biologic, and family studies. J Clin Invest 53:544-553, 1974 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar8. FERNANDEZHENSONOTANIHUGLI HPAT: Chemotactic response to human C3a and C5a anaphylatoxins. I. Evaluation of C3a and C5a leukotaxis in vitro and under simulated in vivo conditions. J Immunol 120:109-115, 1978 MedlineGoogle Scholar9. ROBERTS R: Gonococci-leukocyte interaction, in The Gonococcus. New York, John Wiley & Sons, 1977, pp. 333-353 Google Scholar10. GOLDSCHNEIDERGOTSCHLICHARTENSTEIN IEM: Human immunity to the meningococcus. I. The role of humoral antibodies. J Exp Med 129:1307-1326, 1969 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar11. GRIFFISS J: Bactericidal activity of meningococcal antisera. Blocking by IgA of lytic antibody in human convalescent sera. J Immunol 114:1779-1784, 1975 MedlineGoogle Scholar12. MCCUTCHANKATZENSTEINNORQUISTCHIKAMIWUNDERLICHBRAUDE JDDGAA: Role of blocking antibody in disseminated gonoccoccal infection. J Immunol 121:1884-1888, 1978 MedlineGoogle Scholar13. DURACKBEESON DP: Protective role of complement in experimental Escherichia coli endocarditis. Infect Immun 16:213-217, 1977 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited BySusceptibility of Arcobacter butzleri to human blood serumDefective Complement-Mediated Opsonization and Lysis of Bacteria in Commercial Peritoneal Dialysis SolutionsMeningococcal endocarditis with profound acquired hypocomplementaemiaRole of granulocytes and monocytes in experimental Escherichia coli endocarditisAbsence of the Seventh Component of Complement in a Patient with Chronic Meningococcemia Presenting as VasculitisELAINE M. ADAMS, M.D., STEVEN HUSTEAD, D.O., PAUL RUBIN, M.D., ROBERT WAGNER, M.D., ANITA GEWURZ, M.D., FRANK M. GRAZIANO, M.D., Ph.D.Deficiency of the Eighth Component of Complement and Recurrent Meningococcal Disease: A Case and Family StudyDisseminated gonococcal infection due to a -lactamase-producing strain of Neisseria gonorrhoeae: a case reportMeningococcal infection complicating systemic lupus erythematosusEffects of immunization and anticoagulation on the development of experimental Escherichia coli endocarditis 1 June 1979Volume 90, Issue 6Page: 984-985KeywordsBacteriaGram negative bacteriaGram negative bacterial infectionsHomicidePhagocytes Issue Published: 1 June 1979 PDF DownloadLoading ...