Biomaterial Database

Influence of encapsulation on staphylococcal opsonization and phagocytosis by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes. 1978

P K Peterson, and B J Wilkinson, and Y Kim, and D Schmeling, and P G Quie

In previous studies, encapsulated Staphylococcus aureus strains have been shown to resist phagocytosis. In this investigation, the nature of the interference with phagocytosis by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes was examined by studying the opsonization of two pairs of unencapsulated (Smith compact and M variant) and encapsulated (Smith diffuse and M) S. aureus strains. The uptake of [3H]glycine-labeled bacteria by normal leukocytes was quantitatively measured after incubation of bacteria in pooled serum, C2-deficient serum, immunoglobulin-deficient serum, and serum from a rabbit immunized with S. aureus M. The presence of a capsule was found to interfere with opsonization by both the classical and alternative pathways of complement as well as by heat-stable opsonic factors in nonimmune human serum. This interference was significantly greater in the case of the S. aureus M strain than in the case of the Smith diffuse strain. The only effective opsonic source for S. aureus M was immune rabbit serum. It is proposed that encapsulation of S. aureus strains interferes with phagocytosis by preventing effective bacterial opsonization.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007136	Immunoglobulins	Multi-subunit proteins which function in IMMUNITY. They are produced by B LYMPHOCYTES from the IMMUNOGLOBULIN GENES. They are comprised of two heavy (IMMUNOGLOBULIN HEAVY CHAINS) and two light chains (IMMUNOGLOBULIN LIGHT CHAINS) with additional ancillary polypeptide chains depending on their isoforms. The variety of isoforms include monomeric or polymeric forms, and transmembrane forms (B-CELL ANTIGEN RECEPTORS) or secreted forms (ANTIBODIES). They are divided by the amino acid sequence of their heavy chains into five classes (IMMUNOGLOBULIN A; IMMUNOGLOBULIN D; IMMUNOGLOBULIN E; IMMUNOGLOBULIN G; IMMUNOGLOBULIN M) and various subclasses.	Globulins, Immune,Immune Globulin,Immune Globulins,Immunoglobulin,Globulin, Immune
D007700	Kinetics	The rate dynamics in chemical or physical systems.
D009504	Neutrophils	Granular leukocytes having a nucleus with three to five lobes connected by slender threads of chromatin, and cytoplasm containing fine inconspicuous granules and stainable by neutral dyes.	LE Cells,Leukocytes, Polymorphonuclear,Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes,Polymorphonuclear Neutrophils,Neutrophil Band Cells,Band Cell, Neutrophil,Cell, LE,LE Cell,Leukocyte, Polymorphonuclear,Neutrophil,Neutrophil Band Cell,Neutrophil, Polymorphonuclear,Polymorphonuclear Leukocyte,Polymorphonuclear Neutrophil
D009895	Opsonin Proteins	Proteins that bind to particles and cells to increase susceptibility to PHAGOCYTOSIS, especially ANTIBODIES bound to EPITOPES that attach to FC RECEPTORS. COMPLEMENT C3B may also participate.	Opsonin,Opsonin Protein,Opsonins,Protein, Opsonin
D010587	Phagocytosis	The engulfing and degradation of microorganisms; other cells that are dead, dying, or pathogenic; and foreign particles by phagocytic cells (PHAGOCYTES).	Phagocytoses
D001770	Blood Bactericidal Activity	The natural bactericidal property of BLOOD due to normally occurring antibacterial substances such as beta lysin, leukin, etc. This activity needs to be distinguished from the bactericidal activity contained in a patient's serum as a result of antimicrobial therapy, which is measured by a SERUM BACTERICIDAL TEST.	Activities, Blood Bactericidal,Activity, Blood Bactericidal,Bactericidal Activities, Blood,Bactericidal Activity, Blood,Blood Bactericidal Activities
D002473	Cell Wall	The outermost layer of a cell in most PLANTS; BACTERIA; FUNGI; and ALGAE. The cell wall is usually a rigid structure that lies external to the CELL MEMBRANE, and provides a protective barrier against physical or chemical agents.	Cell Walls,Wall, Cell,Walls, Cell
D003165	Complement System Proteins	Serum glycoproteins participating in the host defense mechanism of COMPLEMENT ACTIVATION that creates the COMPLEMENT MEMBRANE ATTACK COMPLEX. Included are glycoproteins in the various pathways of complement activation (CLASSICAL COMPLEMENT PATHWAY; ALTERNATIVE COMPLEMENT PATHWAY; and LECTIN COMPLEMENT PATHWAY).	Complement Proteins,Complement,Complement Protein,Hemolytic Complement,Complement, Hemolytic,Protein, Complement,Proteins, Complement,Proteins, Complement System
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000907	Antibodies, Bacterial	Immunoglobulins produced in a response to BACTERIAL ANTIGENS.	Bacterial Antibodies