[Effect of contamination of germ-free guinea pigs by individual representatives of the intestinal microflora on antibody and complement concentrations].

On the 3rd day after birth germ-free guinea pigs were contaminated with one of the following representatives of normal intestinal microbial flora: Bac. mesentericus, Bac. subtilis, S. albus, and S. faecalis. In the animals aged two weeks a study was made of the level of antibodies against the microorganisms used for monocontamination, and also to the E. coli O55 pathogenic for guinea pigs; the complement content in the serum was examined as well. Bac. mesentericus and Bac. subtilis contamination of guinea pigs altered the antibody content to these microbes but insignificantly, whereas S. albus and S. faecalis stimulated the antibody genesis considerably. Similar results were obtained in respect to E. coli O55. The complement level was markedly stimulated by the spore aerobes and S. albus.