Skin test and lymphocyte stimulation in delayed hypersensitivity against staphylococcal antigens. Relation to bacterial cell fractions.

Staphylococcal homogenate was fractionated into cell walls (CW), cell membranes (CM) (insoluble part left after removal of the cell wall fraction) and a soluble fraction. The capacity of these fractions to evoke delayed skin reactions and to stimulate lymph node and peripheral blood lymphocytes from guinea pigs sensitized with staphylococcal homogenate in Freund's complete adjuvant was tested 21 days after sensitization. Highest skin reactivity was observed with the cell wall fraction. In the lymphocyte stimulation test similar results were obtained with all three fractions. With peripheral blood lymphocytes higher stimulation indices were observed than with lymph node lymphocytes.