Antibody to cell wall glycolipid of Gram-negative bacteria: induction of immunity to bacteremia and endotoxemia

Abstract

Antiserum to the core glycolipid of gram-negative bacteria was prepared by immunization of rabbits with vaccine composed of killed cells of the uridine diphosphate galactose-deficient mutant (J5) of Escherichia coli O:111. Antiserum to J5 not only prevented death of animals from endotoxin but also prevented the local and generalized Shwartzman reactions. Antiserum to endotoxin also prevented renal cortical necrosis and disseminated intravascular coagulation during the evolution of the generalized Shwartzman reaction. Antiserum to be J5 mutant was successful in the treatment of overwhelming bacteremia produced by other gram-negative bacteria; in addition to bacteremia cause by coliform organism, antiserum to J5 was dramatically effective in treatment of bacteremia due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa. One injection of rabbit antiserum to J5 improved the survival rate from 15% in controls to 59% in treated animals (P less than 0.002). Active immunization with J5 vaccine was even more effective against pseudomonas bacteremia: such immunization improved the survival rate from 13% in controls to 92% in vaccinated rabbits. Since an antiserum effective against the J5 mutant of E. coli can be prepared safely in human subjects, such immunotherapy should be considered for patients with gram-negative bacteremia.