Erythrocyte Polyagglutination Showing Properties of Both T and Tk, Probably Induced by Bacteroides Fragilis Infection

Abstract

A new type of polyagglutination is described in which the T and Tk receptors are both exposed on the erythrocyte membrane. It is suggested that there may be an association between this type of polyagglutination and infection by Bacteroides fragilis.

BSII Lectin: A Second Hemagglutinin Isolated from Bandeiraea Simplicifolia Seeds with Affinity for type III Polyagglutinable Red Cells

“…Although initially only 4 reacted, all did so following ficin treatment (table II). No such enhance ment was observed following ficin treat- [5]. Agglutination in group AB serum was en hanced by ficin.…”

“…In serological tests BS II lectin failed to react with a large number of donor blood B. fragilis has recently been implicated in inducing Tk red cell polyagglutination [5]. We have studied red cells modified by this organism in vitro.…”

Acquired B Antigen, Tk Activation and A(1) Destroying Enzyme Activity in a Patient with Septicaemia

“…T and Tk are frequently encountered to gether but they have been demonstrated to be different [4,5,10], The immunodomi nant sugars of these receptors may be con sidered to be, respectively, /5-galactose and N-acetylglucosamine, detected specifically by Arac his hypogaea and BS II. However, A. hypogaea lectin reacts with T and Tk transformed cells [5], It is not yet clear if this lectin recognizes two chemically differ ent sites or if Tk transformed cells also bear a small number of T sites.…”

Tk Polyagglutination Associated with Reduced A and H Activity

“…Tk polyagglutination was first described by Bird and Wingham [3] and subsequently shown by Inglis et al [8] to be associated with Bacteroides fragilis infection. Eryth rocytes carrying exposed Tk receptors have normal sialic acid levels [3] and are char acterised by their enhanced agglutination reactions, in the presence of papain, with lectins extracted from Arachis hypogaea [3] and Bandeiraea simplicifolia [11].…”

“…The full complement of extracellular en zymes produced by B. fragilis is at present unknown. The enzymes identified so far include heparinase [5], collagenase [6], neuraminidase [12], fibrinolysin [16], hyaluronidase [13], chondroitin sulphatase by us [8] showed that these cells had also reacted weakly with anti-H reagents. The erythrocytes of these group O individuals were also found to give a mixed field ag glutination reaction, which could be inhib ited by 0.01 M N-acetylgalactosamine, with Helix pomatia lectin.…”