Rice M, Fitzgerald T J
Can J Microbiol. 1985 Jan;31(1):62-7. doi: 10.1139/m85-013.
Following testicular infection of rabbits with Treponema pallidum, different antibodies become detectable initially at the time of healing. Experiments were performed to determine a functional role for these antibodies. Rabbits were sacrificed after 4-8 days. Treponemal numbers steadily increased for 10-12 days. Thereafter, host defenses were sufficiently stimulated to begin clearing the organisms. Antibodies in serum and antibodies localized at the site of infection were quantitated using radioimmunoassay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) techniques. Anti-treponemal IgG was detected as early as day 4. Quantities of antibody correspondingly increased with time following infection. Treponema pallidum was harvested 7 and 14 days postinfection and tested for surface antibodies. With increasing days postinfection, more antibody was found on the organisms. Two functional properties of these antibodies were shown. Sera from 24 of 45 rabbits infected for 14 days immobilized T. pallidum in the presence of complement and 14-day sera blocked the attachment of T. pallidum to tissue culture cells. We suggest that antibody-mediated, complement-dependent immobilization of T. pallidum and blockage of attachment are at least partially responsible for healing of testicular lesions.
在用梅毒螺旋体感染兔睾丸后，最初在愈合时可检测到不同的抗体。进行了实验以确定这些抗体的功能作用。4至8天后处死兔子。梅毒螺旋体数量在10至12天内稳步增加。此后，宿主防御受到充分刺激，开始清除病原体。使用放射免疫测定法和酶联免疫吸附测定（ELISA）技术对血清中的抗体和感染部位定位的抗体进行定量。早在第4天就检测到抗梅毒螺旋体IgG。感染后抗体量随时间相应增加。在感染后7天和14天收获梅毒螺旋体并检测表面抗体。随着感染后天数的增加，在病原体上发现了更多抗体。显示了这些抗体的两种功能特性。45只感染14天的兔子中有24只的血清在补体存在下可使梅毒螺旋体固定，并且14天的血清可阻断梅毒螺旋体与组织培养细胞的附着。我们认为，抗体介导的、补体依赖性的梅毒螺旋体固定和附着阻断至少部分负责睾丸病变的愈合。
